Another reason Georgia is my cup of tea

Local farmers are reintroducing thousand-year old Yaupon tea. I found it on a hike on Jekyll Island.

As a child riding in the backseat, bumping down the backroads of Georgia on my way to the beach, I never developed an appreciation for the rows and rows of crops emerging from the warm soil we passed along the way.? “Are we there yet?” is all I wanted to know.?

Today I understand how meaningful those crops are to my state’s economy, To my quality of life. And even to my health?

Because today I know that Georgia leads the nation in the production of peanuts, pecans, blueberries and spring onions. We are always at the top – or near it – for cotton, watermelon, peaches, eggs, cucumbers, sweet corn, bell peppers, tomatoes, cantaloupes and cabbage. If you can’t find an abundance of fresh food in Georgia, you aren’t looking.?

As a business owner – and a tree-hugging lover of the Earth – I am using products grown in Georgia on a daily basis, on my own body and in my home, as well as in the products I create for Gold Lion Farm: cold pressed sunflower oil from our friends at Oliver Farm in Pitts, Georgia. Olive oil from olive trees grown by Georgia Olive Farms in Lakeland Georgia. And now one of my favorite new discoveries: tea from Georgia’s own Yaupon Holly Teahouse in Savannah, Georgia-grown along our coast, in the beautiful Golden Isles.

I found this tree quite by accident while on a hike along the famous Marshes of Glynn?

Walking along the boardwalk on a brisk winter day, I was caught up by the sight of the number of small evergreen holly trees native to this area. Beautiful when in full fruit, as they were that day, the Yaupon is one of our best native ornamentals.?

Growing in the wild, they lurk at the edge of woodland areas and along the coastal dunes of Jekyll, where they are pruned by the wind into low ragged mounds. In this environment the bright green leaves and copious red berries make a wild, stunning statement.?

The berries, which are technically not fruits at all but are called “drupes,” last through the winter.

Who knew? We grow tea right here in Georgia

Indigenous to the Southeastern US. Yaupon trees were prized by Native Americans for their leaves, used in ceremonies, traditional medicine, and caffeinated tea (the only indigenous source of caffeine in North America). For thousands of years Yaupon tea has stimulated the minds, bodies and spirits of those who drink it – as well as helped boost their energy, focus and mental clarity. And all that with much less caffeine than you may be getting at Starbucks! Typically, a brewed cup of Yaupon tea contains around 60mg of caffeine, about one-third less caffeine than coffee.?

All this, and a low-carbon footprint too

Yaupon contains several antioxidants, including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamins B1, B5 and B6.?

And there’s more:?

• Unlike regular tea, Yaupon contains very little tannin – so it’s far less bitter than other teas, and won't over-steep in the pot
• Yaupon also contains no oxalates, which can lead to kidney stones in some people
• Yaupon’s anti-inflammatory qualities appear to have the capability to reduce cancer cells, especially in the colon
• It’s grown and packaged here in the US, on the Georgia coast – so Yaupon has a low carbon footprint!

Best of all, renewed interest in this tea is proving that these native trees can be the basis of a Yaupon industry that will thrive as a part of our native ecology, providing jobs, opportunity and an alternative crop for Georgia farmers.?We add Yaupon Holly Tea to our sweet sun tea soap!

As fall approaches, we’ll be offering up some samples of Yaupon Pear Cider for Thanksgiving celebrations.

If you’re not up to stalking a wild Yaupon Holly tree, come by our shop on the square in Jackson, Georgia where you’ll find a good supply of Yaupon Teahouse “Wild Harvest” tea, ready to take home and prepare. You can also order online at goldlionfarm.com. Try making this recipe in a crock pot to serve warm to your guests:

Yaupon Pear Cider?

40 minutes · Serves 6

This fall cider combines pear cider and Yaupon tea for a tingly and invigorating blend, unique from all other fall ciders (courtesy of sipsby.com)

2 cups filtered water

2 rounded tsp loose leaf or 2 sachets/bags green Yaupon or medium roast Yaupon

2 cups sparkling pear cider

3 cups pear juice

1 tsp vanilla extract

5 whole cloves

1/2 cup brandy (optional)

3 tbsp orange liqueur, like Triple Sec or Cointreau (also optional)

Pear slices/rounds and cinnamon sticks for garnish

Heat water to 212°F and steep tea for 3-5 minutes then remove (strain) tea.

In a large saucepan bring the pear cider and juice, vanilla extract, and cloves to a boil over medium-high heat. When it starts to boil, reduce heat to low and let simmer (uncovered) for 5 minutes. Then remove from heat, and stir in brandy, orange liqueur, and Yaupon tea.

Strain into a large pitcher and serve in individual mugs. Top with an extra splash of pear cider, garnish with a pear round and cinnamon stick. Enjoy!

Recipe from Pinterest, adapted from Delish