North America's Native Tea

The only caffeinated plant native to North America.

The American Yaupon Association unites the growers, producers, and brands reviving an 8,000-year tradition, rooted in the American Southeast.

Discover yaupon Become a member

Image, add asset

Our Story

America's tea, rediscovered.

Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) is the only plant native to North America that naturally contains caffeine.

For centuries, Indigenous peoples across the Southeast, from the Atlantic coast to Texas, roasted and brewed yaupon leaves into a stimulant beverage central to trade, ceremony, and daily life. Long before coffee or imported tea reached the continent, this evergreen holly was already America's tea.

That heritage was nearly forgotten. Widespread yaupon drinking faded by the late nineteenth century, and for generations the plant survived mainly as an ornamental hedge. Today a new generation of growers is bringing it back. The American Yaupon Association exists to support that revival: to advance ethical production, educate the public, and steward North America's native tea for the long term.

Yaupon holly leaves, add asset

AYA by the numbers

A young and rapidly growing American industry.

Here's where it stands today, with the help of the AYA:

Companies

Member brands across the Southeast.

Customers

People reached through member products.

Jobs

Rural and agricultural jobs supported.

Pounds

Yaupon leaf harvested each year.

Products

Teas, sparkling drinks, and blends.

American Yaupon Association Member Companies:

Benefits

Native. Smooth. Rich in beneficial compounds.

Yaupon is a rare thing: a caffeinated beverage that is native, naturally low in bitterness, and full of beneficial plant compounds.

Smooth, sustained energy

Roughly 30 to 60 mg of caffeine per cup, less than a typical coffee, alongside theobromine, the gently stimulating compound also found in cacao. Many drinkers describe the effect as focused and even.

Rich in antioxidants

Yaupon leaves contain polyphenols and other antioxidant compounds, including chlorogenic acid, from the same broad family prized in green tea and other botanicals.

Low in bitterness

Unlike many traditional teas, yaupon is very low in the tannins that cause astringency, so it can be steeped longer without turning bitter.

Genuinely sustainable

Native, hardy, and drought tolerant once established, yaupon thrives across a wide range of soils and grows abundantly in its home range with minimal inputs.

Frequently Asked

Questions about yaupon.

Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) is an evergreen holly native to the southeastern United States and the only plant native to North America that naturally contains caffeine. Its roasted leaves have been brewed into tea for centuries and are enjoyed today in loose-leaf teas, bagged teas, and ready-to-drink beverages.

Yes. A cup of yaupon tea contains roughly 30 to 60 mg of caffeine, generally about half that of a comparable cup of coffee. It also contains theobromine, a milder stimulant found in cacao, which many people feel gives yaupon a smooth, steady character.

No. The species name is a historical mistake. It dates to European observers who misread an Indigenous purification ceremony and wrongly assumed the plant caused vomiting. Yaupon contains no emetic compounds and is enjoyed as an everyday beverage.

The Association brings together the growers, producers, and brands behind America's native tea. Its work centers on promoting ethical production, educating the public about yaupon, and supporting responsible stewardship of the plant and the industry that depends on it.

Get Involved

Help grow America's native tea.

Whether you grow, produce, sell, or simply love yaupon, there is a place for you in the Association. Reach out to learn about membership.