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Yaupon, the Only Caffeine Source Native to the U.S., Has Potential to Explode May 13, 2015 | Sports & Energy, Herbs & Botanicals, Trends & Business By Michael Crane From a glance at the U.S. caffeine market, it might seem like all the great energy ingredients come from other parts of the world. Coffee is thought to originate in the Middle East, tea comes from Asia, and even alternative energy ingredients like guarana, guayusa, and yerba mate hail from South America. There is, however, one local contender looking to break onto the scene. Yaupon holly, the only naturally occurring caffeine-containing...

Yaupon Asi Tea founder to address forum By Fatima Husseinfatima.hussein@news-jrnl.com Published: Monday, January 12, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, January 12, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. DAYTONA BEACH — The founder of an Edgewater business that produces a line of teas made from yaupon holly shrubs that grow wild throughout the Southeastern United States will address an entrepreneurs forum here Wednesday morning. The 1 Million Cups event featuring the presentation by Bryon White, owner of Yaupon Asi Tea, will be from 9 to 10 a.m. at Sweet Marlays’ Coffee at 214 S. Beach St. in downtown Daytona Beach. White’s...

Yaupon growing in the wild in east Texas. This evergreen holly was once valuable to Native American tribes in the Southeastern U.S., which made a brew from its caffeinated leaves. Murray Carpenter for NPR During a severe drought in 2011, JennaDee Detro noticed that many trees on the family cattle ranch in Cat Spring, Texas, withered, but a certain evergreen holly appeared vigorous. It's called a yaupon. "The best we can tell is that they enjoy suffering," Detro says with a laugh. "So this kind of extreme weather in Texas — and the extreme soil conditions — are perfect for...