3:4:21 My Witless Online Buy

A week or so ago, I was on the BBC website and read a story about the re-introduction of North America's only caffeine beverage. Historically, a Native American drink for which leaves of a Southeastern holly tree were harvested, dried, and finally boiled to make a black drink. Often used socially and for other purposes (which we will get to). YAUPON, a name derived from the Catawba language, is the handle by which this throwback drink is having another go, thanks to some botanical entrepreneurs armed with hype.

USDA entry

I was intrigued by something more than the PC thrill of supporting a drink with an Indigenous aura. Intrigued because mankind has gone to great lengths for their caffeine fix. India, Asia, South America, North Africa. But North America?! Do we in the ol' USA have our own caffeine drink, viz, YAUPON?

It was news to me and reason to buy impulsively. The BBC even named sellers in the States. But I, in cognitive overload, perhaps, at this discovery hopped on eBay. Witless, I ordered. Somewhat spendy at $15 for a dozen YAUPON tea bags, but this had the makings of an adventure.

Within the hour, I wondered, What have I done? For starters, how was I to know I might not be allergic to this. I had not done even the most casual googling for side effects, if any. Has the FDA issued any warnings as they did with that notorious weight-loss tea, ephedra? Or possible liver damage with kava-kava? Has this uptick in selling YAUPON been around long enough for the FDA to check it out?

I started having questions.

What is the botanical scientific name for the YAUPON holly tree? Ilex--the genus for Holly--followed by vomitoria, the epithet that relates to--you guessed it--the plant's historical use as an emetic. Or to quote the USDA Plant Guide entry: Native Americans used YAUPON “to induce vomiting and as a purgative or laxative.” Yikes! You won't catch me overdoing that tea.

If I thought drinking coffee gave me the jitters from too much caffeine--which it does--YAUPON was going to take possible side effects into a new dimension. In fact, the USDA Guide also adds, Indigenous tribes used the plant "as a hallucinogen to 'evoke ecstasies.'" Whoa--Am I getting shades of a kratom vibe here?

But I'd ordered my YAUPON. What to do? I've decided not to toss it on receipt, but to keep it around to remind: Don't be impulsive; always do due diligence.

After I let that visual reminder steep a while, I'll toss it. I'll stick with green tea and resist more urges to go really native, tea-wise.

Image credit: USDA Plant Guide


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