V.I.P. (VERY IMPORTANT PLANT)

Rediscovering Yaupon: “North America’s forgotten medicinal plant”

Written by Melissa Mahanes / Photos Courtesy Yaupon Teahouse and Apothecary

Yaupon is a species of holly native to the southeastern United States. It is known as the only native North American plant containing caffeine. Yaupon has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries, and its leaves and stems can be brewed into a tea-like beverage. Early settlers and Native American tribes across the American Southeast consumed this tea as a ceremonial beverage and stimulant. The plant is also used in some types of traditional crafts and has become a popular ornamental shrub in gardens. Yaupon is found in swamps, woodlands, and coastal areas from Virginia to Texas.

Yaupon promotes whole-body wellness both internally and externally. It was traditionally used in balms and salves to heal wounds and nourish the skin. In addition, the plant contains antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties that are great for cleansing, brightening, and rejuvenating the skin. When consumed as a beverage, you get the same stimulation as tea or coffee, but with less of a crash at the end.

We were introduced to Yaupon on our recent trip to Savannah when we met Lou Thomann through mutual friends Jim Berkeley and Mara Papatheodorou. Lou was an ex-rice trader and historic building restorer in Savannah and never expected to find himself advocating the health benefits of a Native American medicinal plant. But looking back, when Yaupon came into his life, it was serendipitous.

As a young boy in New England, Lou was always passionate about native cultures. He remembers reading Native American stories that had been passed down for generations. When Lou discovered the Yaupon tree and its story many years later, his long-dormant passion was reignited, and his Yaupon mission was born. Lou has become an expert on all the benefits of Yaupon and passionately believes that Yaupon will become an essential medicinal plant once again.

In the fall of 2010, Lou and some family and friends took a weekend trip to nearby Ossabaw Island. They were introduced to the Yaupon tree by UGA naturalist John “Crawfish” Crawford. Crawford explained that the native inhabitants of the island had harvested the leaves of the Yaupon to make a tea that they called “The Black Drink” for thousands of years. He also shared the Native American medicinal uses of the plant and its popularity throughout the colonial period.

That day, Yaupon leaves were picked, roasted, and brewed so the group could enjoy the tea after dinner by the fire. After drinking the tea, Lou felt amazing. The brew’s clean, full-bodied taste and fascinating history intrigued him.

When he returned to the mainland, he began tirelessly researching Yaupon Holly. His findings unveiled the intriguing untold American history of Yaupon Tea and the astounding health attributes of this plant. After months of picking excursions in the woods, late-night brewing sessions, and countless hours studying scientific reports and historical accounts, Lou began hand-packing tea bags in his kitchen for friends to try. The results were encouraging. Soon, people everywhere asked him for more of his native drink. Lou recognized that Yaupon would be his next mission-based endeavor.

After three years of traveling to trade shows, meeting with university professors, and scouting out the best locations to sustainably harvest Yaupon, Lou launched The Yaupon Tea Company (now Yaupon Teahouse and Apothecary) and the ASI “The Purifier” line of products. He began bottling and packaging his handcrafted tea, embracing this historic plant as a true national treasure.

Since then, the company’s goal has been to encourage Americans to reconnect with the ancient wisdom surrounding Yaupon Holly and to taste and experience all the health benefits of this native tea. Lou has developed a special connection to this plant and believes he is responsible for reintroducing Yaupon to the contemporary world transparently and authentically. Lou’s mission also includes recruiting and educating farmers interested in growing Yaupon.

In the six years that followed, Lou sold the tea at farmer’s markets and festivals, talking with customers and educating them on the health benefits of Yaupon. There were also trips to Trade Shows (Fancy Foods, Expo East & Expo West, Europe’s Biofac), and the company began wholesaling the tea to retailers.

Yaupon Teahouse and Apothecary is pioneering Yaupon research at Temples Farm in Metter, Georgia, through a Small Business Innovation Grant (Phase II SBIR-USDA), experimenting with cultivation under different fertilization protocols, soil types, and shade conditions. In addition, their research explores the health benefits and photochemistry of the Yaupon plant. During this time, Lou achieved some key “Yaupon firsts” milestones:

• Took the first ready-to-drink Yaupon Tea to the market

• Received the first USDA grants to promote Yaupon Tea

• Received the first SBIR research-based grants

• Started the first dedicated Yaupon farm, focused on perfecting techniques for growing and processing Yaupon

• Established their position as the first national distributor of any Yaupon product

All the products use organic, wild-crafted Yaupon grown on the business’s own farms, carefully paired with other medicinal plants that synergize well with Yaupon. The Yaupon line of internal and external health, beauty, and skin care products are all-natural and centered around clean beauty. They offer teas that boost your immune system, improve your cognitive functioning, aid your digestive system, and help women with menstrual pain. They also sell traditional Yaupon tea for people who want to enjoy the pure taste of Yaupon without any added ingredients.

If you want to order Yaupon products from Yaupon Teahouse and Apothecary, visit their charming Savannah store or order online at yauponteahouse.com. You will feel tea-rrific after you try Yaupon!