BLACK DRINK.
MY non-influencer EXPERIENCE…WITH YAUPON TEA
I read a story in early February about a drink American Indians of the Southeast Coastal Region enjoyed prior to Europeans coming to America. I was instantly fascinated.
Further research revealed this product is still being produced and enjoyed.
My wife easily falls asleep during the day but cannot stand coffee (I know! What kind of freak is she?) She also does not like tea, though she will occasionally sip a cola to stay awake. A number of years ago she brought a specialty tea home because she WANTED to like tea. After one sip she remarked, “It tastes like the forest floor.” I tried it…unfortunately, she was correct. I’m sure there are people who like an “earthy” taste to their tea. However, I found no redeeming merit to that specialty tea. A couple times a week I will enjoy a pleasant cup of tea, but like many others who like the taste of black tea the tannin kinda gets to me if I drink too much. On the other hand, when I have a scratchy throat soothing tannin is desired.
Most people have no problems with tannin found in black tea. However, a small group experience difficulties. First, it will bind to iron in foods just eaten, which is harmful to those who are iron-deficient. Others have a “more personal” reaction, nausea. Thus, drinking a tea which does not have tannin may be more healthful for those who have this problem.
Before spending big bucks ordering this specialty tea of Native Americans I sought out other tea drinkers to see if any had tried it. None had even heard of the product. Some recommended I check out a local “tea shop.” I had. It doesn’t carry the blend.
History of Yaupon Tea:
What if I told you that, if you live in the South, you might have this tea-bush in your own front yard. Many do. It is planted as an ornamental or decorative bush by many landscapers (and is native) in much of the deep South, especially coastal areas. Several sites suggested it can be grown indoors in the north. It is our only native source of caffeine. However, most don’t even know it can be used to produce a hot or cold drink, much like coffee or tea, with lower caffeine and no tannin. Reading one source, it can be steeped for a long time, if wished, or the tea bags can be re-used if you don’t mind a lighter taste.
Yaupon is a type of holly native to the southeast from Virginia to West Texas. The Timucua tribe of Georgia and Florida called it “cassina.” However, Spanish explorers referred to it as “black drink.”
“According to research conducted by Dr William Merrill of the Smithsonian Institution, the shrub was consumed by almost every Native American tribe who lived among it. When picked, roasted and boiled, the leaves yield a yellow to dark-orange elixir with a fruity and earthy aroma and a smooth flavour with malty tones. As if orchestrated specifically for the mind and body, yaupon leaves’ perfect ratio of stimulating xanthines such as caffeine, theobromine and theophylline release slowly into the body, providing a jitter-free mental clarity and an ease to the stomach.” (Matt Stirn, 24th February 2021, BBC.com Travel)
Yaupon is one of three holly varieties from which teas are produced. Yerba Mate and Guayusa are from South America and were long used before explorers arrived in the regions. Of the three, it is claimed that Yaupon is the sweetest and smoothest (although that is from the advertisement of one seller).
I am not a tea snob. If it tastes good and not very expensive…I probably like it better than a more delicate but expensive tea. In college I knew a tea snob. He carried his own small tin of tea leaves, had his own tea spoon (to hold his loose tea leaves), and would swirl it 11 times in the hot water in his cup, add the sweetener (something specifically not ordinary sugar), and wait 45 seconds before beginning to sip.
A few years ago I tried Green Tea and although it was OK I found it less than “tasty.” I did not want to have a poor first experience with this ancient tea, so I chose the Dark blend (it also comes in Light). That being said, there was no chart which showed which tea the new customer might like if…they liked robust flavor, for example.
I like robust tea, like black tea, English Breakfast tea, and such. Growing up we always had Lipton brand ordinary teabags, and I found them a bit light and not as robust. However, ALDI sells an ordinary old black tea (including a few ground stems) which tastes fine to me. Clearly, I do not qualify as a tea snob.
I ordered 16 teabags of dark roast Yaupon tea from Lost Pines in Texas and it set me back a bit more than I would like at just under $0.80/bag. I could have bought from another producer at about $1.50/bag for their introductory pack.
First, let me say, it is made from plant leaves, just like ordinary tea. Thus, it has a dusty, dry leaf, flavor much like ordinary ALDI tea. I tasted less bitter aftertaste. My other concern was how I often react to tannin with an occasional slightly upset stomach. That did not happen. As mentioned above, I re-used the teabag and had an excellent second cup of tea that was very much the same as the first cup. If you tried to re-use a bag of ordinary black tea your second cup would be noticeably more bitter.
Second, for my wife it was a “successful” experiment. She cannot stand the bitter aftertaste of ordinary tea. All her life she watched her grandmother and others enjoying the tea which she could not. She was not “thrilled” with Yaupon, but she thinks she could enjoy a small cup from time to time (along with a Lorna Doone). Big benefit…she reported that it did not taste like “the forest floor.”
Conclusion: I was looking for a hot caffeinated drink that my wife could tolerate. Result: YES.
I was looking for a tea that I could enjoy without the discomfort caused by tannin. Result: YES. I would not buy it just for me, however, as I am fine with a single cup of regular tea from time to time. However, if my wife continues to use this product I will purchase more (a larger order to get a discount). If tea becomes one of those “scarce” products, I will look into growing Yaupon Holly in my own yard.
Copyright 2023 Donald Whelpley
[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms, as I do, and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him elsewhere. ~ Sherry]
MORE OF DON’S GREAT GUEST POSTS:
~ Public Schools III ~ Public Schools II ~ Public Schools I ~ 5-Star Reviews ~ Fractions Matter! ~ Small Spoons ~ Dumpster ~ Weird Forgiveness III ~
~ Weird Forgiveness II ~ Weird Forgiveness I ~ Classified Documents ~ Future You Needs A Friend ~ Feeling Understood ~ Starting The New Year Right ~
~ Awe! Aah! Ooh! ~ Christmas As A Poor (Rich) Child ~ Bigger Problems ~ Blessing ~ Climate Change – 2 ~ Medical Science Too Far? ~ Gravity and Light ~
~ Travel Fun ~ Fascinating People: Gloria Hartman Doughty ~ Sadly Magic Words ~ Mulberries ~ Climate Change? ~ SPURIOUS UBIQUITOUS NOISE ~
~ TEW ~ Credit Card Debt ~ ~ Insect Oddities ~ DATA ~ Cities Got Name? ~ The Bible Does Not Say That! ~ Too Old?? ~ Be My Guest ~ IN-CRE-MEN-TAL-ISM ~ Bad Friends & Broken Tools ~ ~ Pools Are For The Birds?? ~ Animals Hindering Your Financial Freedom ~ The Chicken ~ Finding The Exit ~
~ Allegheny Blackberries ~ Romantic Sunset At The Beach ~ Fun Facts About Carpenter Ants ~ Bad Habits ~ Doing Faith Wrong ~ Quirky! ~
~ Ten-Foot Trestle ~ Settling Estates ~ Living In High Horse Country ~ The Dying Generation ~
Comments