Yaupon Is An Energizing Tea That's Making A Comeback

If you're looking for a drink that'll give you a little extra caffeination in the morning without the usual coffee jitters, some yaupon tea may be the beverage you've been seeking. Though the drink may not be available on a majority of café menus, it was once pretty popular.

The Timucua tribe native to southern Georgia and northern Florida (as well as other Native American tribes) were frequent enjoyers of the drink for at least 1,000 years. The popularity of the beverage was noted by colonists who came to America, and they eventually shared it with Europeans. Unfortunately, after botanist William Aiton named the plant "ilex vomitoria" in the late 1700s, many people were discouraged from trying it, believing it would make them nauseous thanks to its name. The beverage was ultimately edged out by coffee and traditional European teas.

Today, however, plenty of people are seeing the benefits of the beverage once more. There are quite a few companies that grow the plant and sell the tea, which can be ordered online. It can even be found on some café menus near its native growing region. With more and more people looking for coffee alternatives, yaupon is finally seeing a resurgence.

Yaupon contains roughly 60mg of caffeine per cup — a little less than coffee, but pretty comparable to green tea. While this may be a great way to boost your energy levels, it also has several important health benefits, which is one of the reasons why people are becoming drawn to it once again. Yaupon contains quite a few antioxidants that can be beneficial for the drinker's health. These can combat heart disease, support brain function and focus, and reduce inflammation. The drink may even be helpful in preventing certain cancers or diabetes.

Yaupon tea contains antioxidants and polyphenols that have been directly linked to reduced risk of colon cancer. The rutin and neochlorogenic acid found in the tea have both been found to reduce inflammation which could ultimately lead to heart disease (much like coffee). Additionally, cryptochlorogenic acid may also help to prevent or treat diabetes by protecting cells in the pancreas that create insulin.

If you're looking to improve your memory, yaupon may be able to help with that, too. The tea contains theobromine, which has been shown to increase memory function and motor learning in experiments with mice. And, research suggests that it could be linked to Alzheimer's prevention, as well.

The bushes of yaupon grow in the southern United States, from Virginia to Texas, and are even treated as a weed by many, thanks to their resilient nature — the bushes can even survive droughts and rough weather. Fortunately, there are plenty who see the value in this plant, and it can be harvested and turned into a refreshing, nutritious drink.

Flavor-wise, yaupon is comparable to something of a blend between green tea and yerba mate. The drink features a mild herby, earthy flavor. However, yaupon can take on a different taste depending on how it's prepared. Once the leaves are picked from the Ilex vomitoria shrub, they are then roasted into a light, medium, or dark roast — similar to the process of roasting coffee beans.

The easiest way to make the drink is simply to steep it like you would with any other loose-leaf tea. You'll want your water hot, but not boiling — a range of between 160 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Then, add in one teaspoon of roasted yaupon tea leaves per 14 ounces of hot water.

Allow the leaves to steep for approximately four to six minutes before removing them. As an added bonus, yaupon is completely tannin-free, making it impossible to over-steep, so you'll never have to worry about any bitter tastes. Once you've let your beverage brew to your liking, you can enjoy your energizing drink and all its benefits.