How to Harvest & Brew Yaupon Tea (The Only Caffeinated Plant Native to North America)

🌱 GET STARTED WITH TEXAS NATIVE PLANTS 📬 Free 7-Day Mini Course: Learn how to design a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape that saves water and supports wildlife. → https://coryames.com/txnative/ 🌿 $7 Native Plant Nursery Starter Guide: The perfect companion to your landscaping journey. Save time, money, and avoid killing plants. → https://coryames.com/the-texas-native... ⸻ Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) is one of the most versatile native plants in Texas — not just for landscaping, but for brewing your very own caffeinated tea. In this video, I walk you through how to harvest yaupon leaves, roast them, and brew a fresh cup of yaupon tea right from your yard. Along the way, we’ll cover the plant’s fascinating history — from its use in Indigenous communities to its decline in popularity due to colonial politics — and why it’s making a comeback today. 📍 CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction & Why Yaupon is Special 01:38 – Harvesting Yaupon Leaves 03:58 – Preparing the Leaves for Roasting 05:13 – Roasting the Yaupon Leaves 05:22 – The History of Yaupon Tea 07:59 – Brewing the Yaupon Tea 09:38 – Tasting & Final Thoughts 10:22 – Related Native Edible Plants 🎥 WATCH NEXT ▶ How to Grow & Use Yaupon Holly in Texas Landscapes 👉    • The COMPLETE Guide to Growing the Texas Na...   🗞 MY NEWSLETTERS 📰 Texas Field Notes — Deep dives into native plants, Texas ecology, and stories from the land → https://cory-ames.kit.com/9a43cf682f 📍 The San Antonio Something — Local stories, culture, and curated events to help you know where you live → https://cory-ames.kit.com/cfc0c898b2 💼 WANT TO WORK WITH ME? I collaborate with mission-driven brands and organizations to tell stories that make Texas wilder and wiser — through YouTube, newsletters, and social media. → Learn more or get in touch: https://coryames.com/work/ 🔗 CONNECT 📸 Instagram:   / coryames.tx   🌐 Website: https://coryames.com 📧 LinkedIn:   / amescory   👇 ABOUT ME Hi, I’m Cory — telling the stories that make Texas wilder & wiser. Through essays, short films, and hands-on native-plant guides, I chronicle the plants, people, and places redefining sustainability in San Antonio and across the Lone Star State — all gathered here for anyone ready to dig in and explore. Subscribe for weekly videos. Disclosure: Some of the links in this description may be affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products, books, and gear I use and believe in. #YauponHolly #TexasNativePlants #YauponTea #ForagingTexas #NativePlantEdibles