Lost Pines Yaupon Tea

Yaupon tea made from North America's only native caffeinated plant — available as loose leaf, tea bags, and flavored concentrates.

Lost Pines Yaupon Tea, founded in 2015 by Jason Ellis, Heidi Wachter, and John Seibold, produces tea from yaupon holly — the only caffeinated plant native to North America and a relative of yerba mate and guayusa. Yaupon has a long history of use by Native Americans, who roasted the leaves to make an energizing drink. We offer loose leaf, tea bags, and flavored concentrates in varieties such as light roast, dark roast, and yaupon blended with cacao (Yoco). Our dark roast yields a jitter-free brew with notes ranging from light caramel to nutty and smoky; it is virtually free of tannins, so longer steeping adds flavor without bitterness. The concentrates make a half gallon of lightly sweetened iced or hot tea with just water. We have been featured in the BBC, Texas Highways, Edible Austin, and The Austin Chronicle.

Our yaupon is wild harvested from the Lost Pines Forest region of central Texas. Founder Jason Ellis spent years experimenting with different methods of harvesting, curing, and roasting yaupon before settling on the methods used today. Thinning yaupon from the forest is an intentional practice: removing the faster-growing yaupon gives the loblolly pines room to grow back and helps restore habitat for the critically endangered Houston Toad. The Lost Pines Habitat Conservation Plan was created to support this restoration effort. We describe our goal as bringing customers the most environmentally friendly caffeinated beverage around, and we state that making yaupon tea is an art form that changes with the seasons, with our process continually evolving.