Tea is one of the most consumed drinks in the world and although its main competitor, coffee, continues to lead the preferences of the majority of the population, many have switched to the universe of infusions in general, and tea in particular, because they consider it healthier or prefer to reduce caffeine intake. A little-known variety, but one that is becoming fashionable, is yaupon tea, which has a mild grassy flavor that is somewhat reminiscent of green tea.
Table of Contents
- Origins of yaupon tea
- Health benefits of yaupon tea
- Precautions to take with yaupon tea
- How to prepare yaupon tea
1 . Origins of yaupon tea
Yaupon tea is native to the United States and is made from the leaves of the yaupon holly, which belongs to the wild flora and grows from North Carolina to East Texas. Traditionally, Native Americans prepared it for medicinal purposes. Although it was drunk daily, it was also used during purification rituals, and before making an important decision, a special mixture that included this tea was ingested because it was considered to clear the mind.
Traces of yaupon tea have been found in a cup dated to 1050 AD, but despite its popularity among indigenous peoples and the fact that it was exported to France and England after the arrival of the English to the American continent, yaupon was not successful in Europe. There are those who attribute it to the name with which the Scottish botanist William Aiton baptized it: Ilex vomitoria.
Ilex is the genus name for the holly plant, but vomitoria refers to vomit, and although the concoctions taken in purification rituals often caused vomiting, this was due to other herbs that were mixed with yaupon to induce vomiting. vomiting, while there is no evidence that this tea itself causes this unpleasant reaction.
2 . Health benefits of yaupon tea
Yaupon is not a true Camellia sinensis tea and, unlike most herbal teas on the market, contains between 30 and 60 mg of caffeine per cup. It also contains theobromine, which is a substance similar to caffeine found in many types of tea and cocoa, and whose beneficial health properties have been revealed in some studies, such as the one published in Frontiers in Pharmacology in 2015.
Among the beneficial health properties attributed to yaupon tea, the following stand out:
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Mild stimulant: By including a lower caffeine content than coffee, it can work as a mild stimulant. Additionally, it has a lower acidity than coffee.
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Mild laxative: Native Americans also used it for this purpose.
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Reduces inflammation: polyphenols extracted from yaupon leaves have anti-inflammatory effects, as noted in a study published in Fitoterapia in 2011.
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Improves metabolism: The chlorogenic acid contained in this tea plays a fundamental role in metabolism and may help protect against fatty liver, type 2 diabetes, obesity and heart disease, according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine.
3 . Precautions to take with yaupon tea
If too much yaupon tea is taken, or in especially sensitive people, unwanted effects can occur such as:
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Increase heart rate.
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Disturb sleep.
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laxative effect.
On the other hand, if you have food or plant allergies, consult a health professional before trying yaupon tea to ensure there is no risk of allergic reactions. The same if you are taking medications.
Pregnant or nursing women should be cautious of the caffeine and other compounds in yaupon tea. Consult your doctor before consuming it in these situations.
In any case, make sure the yaupon tea you buy comes from a reliable, high-quality source. This ensures that the leaves have been properly grown, harvested and processed.
4 . How to prepare yaupon tea
Yaupon tea is prepared like any other infusion. It is advisable that the leaves with which it is made be dried or toasted before preparation. The more toasted they are, the darker the drink will be and the more intense its flavor. You can also prepare it with fresh leaves, but then its flavor will be milder.
To prepare it, boil water, then pour it over leaves or a tea bag and let it steep for five minutes. You now have your drink ready. In addition, you can prepare it in advance because, unlike black, green and white teas, yaupon will not become tannic, and you can even soak its leaves again, although, naturally, it will lose flavor and intensity.
Also as with other infusions, you can drink yaupon tea hot, or serve it cold and with ice to stay well hydrated when the heat hits.
