We’re stewards of yaupon, a wild native plant with the power to restore: ourselves, our communities, our industries, and our land.
CatSpring Yaupon crafts regenerative, organic yaupon—America’s only native caffeine—into hand-roasted tea, delivering joyful energy, steady focus, and award-winning flavor. At CatSpring Yaupon, we’re not just making tea. We’re reviving traditions, stewarding the land, and building community...one cup at a time.
Our Story
It was 2011—Texas’ driest year in recorded history. A devastating drought swept through the state, leaving over 300 million trees dead. Ranchers sold off cattle. Fields lay barren. But amidst the parched land, one plant remained untouched by the harsh conditions: yaupon.
Where everything else withered, yaupon thrived.
That resilience caught the attention of Abianne Falla.
Raised in Texas and a member of the Chickasaw Nation, she had always known yaupon as the unruly shrub that overtook fence lines and pastures.
But curiosity led her deeper. She uncovered its rich history—how Indigenous communities along the Gulf Coast had brewed yaupon for millennia as a source of natural caffeine, how it had been traded across North America, and how, somewhere along the way, it had been forgotten.
Inspired by its past and potential, Abianne set out to reintroduce yaupon to the modern world. She experimented, refined, and mastered the art of crafting yaupon into a smooth, complex tea—delicate green, balanced medium, and bold dark roasts. In the process, she launched CatSpring Yaupon, not just as a tea company but as the pioneer of an entirely new category: U.S.-grown, naturally caffeinated yaupon.
For years, spreading the word about yaupon felt like pushing a boulder uphill. But that persistence has paid off. Today, yaupon is finally having its moment. Whole Foods Market named it a top trend. Major brands have embraced it as a sustainable caffeine alternative. And CatSpring Yaupon remains at the forefront, supplying regenerative organic certified (ROC) yaupon to brands and crafting our own line of loose-leaf and bagged teas.
Beyond tea, our commitment runs deeper—to the land and to people.
We harvest yaupon responsibly from 1,100 acres, restoring balance between native grasses and the wild holly that has always belonged here. As a woman-led company, we create opportunities through our People First employment initiative, ensuring that dignity and respect are at the heart of every step we take.
A decade ago, yaupon was nearly forgotten.
Today, it’s reclaiming its place—on kitchen shelves, in craft beverages, and in the hands of those seeking a smooth, natural source of energy. And at CatSpring Yaupon, we’re honored to be part of that story.
