The Boston Tea Party was a triumphant moment in American history. In 1773, nearly 100,000 pounds of British tea were thrown into Boston Harbor, making the bay look like a steeped brew. To this day, Americans prefer coffee over “British” tea.
Coffee was also in short supply at the time, so colonists turned to North America’s only native caffeinated plant, yaupon.
Coffee is also due to receive tariffs, making yaupon a very interesting alternative.
Yaupon is an evergreen holly that can be found from the wilderness of North Carolina all the way to Texas.
The tea has been forgotten by Americans over the years, but that may change very soon.
Tea imports returned to normal in the post-Revolutionary period, and yaupon became an afterthought. Tariffs have returned on tea once again, now at their highest since that fateful protest in 1773.
America imports the majority of its tea from China and India, but yaupon can thrive here untaxed. Tea industry leaders bemoan tariffs, since the U.S. does not produce tea, but yaupon offers a patriotic alternative.
Bryon White, CEO of Yaupon Brothers, in an interview with MarthaStewart.com, described the taste of yaupon: “I would describe the flavor as ‘earthy’ or ‘grassy.’” He describes the flavor as quite similar to regular tea but far less bitter, since yaupon has fewer tannins.
With a rising demand for homegrown American products, the yaupon industry is poised for growth. Farmers from Texas ranches to Florida farms are already producing it for a niche market.
Yaupon brews just like traditional tea. It can come in tea bags or as loose leaf. Yaupon can be cured or roasted to attain the same character as your typical green and black teas.
Several companies are leaping at the opportunity. CatSpring Yaupon produces dark and green roasts in Texas. Their new branding highlights that their product is pure Americana.
Florida’s Yaupon Brothers has learned from the yerba maté industry and applied the same harvesting principles. They have demonstrated that yaupon can be produced at scale—a model that other companies may follow.
Farmers are excited about the opportunity to resurrect this long-forgotten American tea, but educating consumers needs to be a priority, since yaupon is not yet a widely known plant.
If yaupon surges, it honors our American heritage. A revolutionary comeback for a native plant that helped grant us liberty is perfect for Trump’s vision of America First.
