Tag: Holly tea

As North America's only native caffeinated plant, with a history of use by indigenous peoples for over 8,000 years, yaupon holly is a truly American superfood. Historically revered for its energizing and purifying properties, yaupon holly tea is now experiencing a modern revival for its numerous health benefits and unique composition.

While some species, like the Yaupon holly (*Ilex vomitoria*), have leaves that can be boiled for a caffeinated tea, consuming leaves from common ornamental hollies like English holly (*Ilex aquifolium*) is highly discouraged due to toxic saponins and other compounds,. Never assume boiling is a guaranteed method for making a plant safe for consumption.

Kuding tea, a staple in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over two thousand years, is famously renowned for its intense bitterness, a characteristic that is reflected in some of its most common alternative names. This herbal infusion is distinctly different from traditional green or black tea, which are made from the *Camellia sinensis* plant.

As the only naturally caffeinated plant native to North America, Yaupon has been consumed for thousands of years by indigenous peoples. This long history and the plant's unique properties lead many to ask: is it safe to drink Yaupon tea? The answer, as with most caffeinated beverages, lies in moderation and understanding its effects.