The Science Behind Yaupon
Explore modern yaupon research in one place.
Yaupon ( Ilex vomitoria ) is America’s native caffeinated plant—long used as a beverage, and now increasingly studied for what makes it unique: clean caffeine chemistry, antioxidant stability, and deep cultural history.
Below are key studies that continue to shape how yaupon is understood today.
1. Anti-Inflammatory & Chemopreventive Effects
Study: Flavonol-Rich Fractions of Yaupon Holly Leaves
What this research explored:
This body of work examined flavonoid-rich extracts from yaupon and their interaction with inflammation-related pathways in human cell models.
2. Antioxidant Stability & Packaging
Study: Impact of Packing Materials on Antioxidant Phytochemical Stability
What this research explored:
How packaging materials affected antioxidant compounds in brewed yaupon compared to green tea during refrigerated storage.
3. Metabolomics, Chemotaxonomy & Theacrine
Study: Metabolomics and Chemotaxonomy of Caffeine-Containing Holly
What this research explored:
Advanced metabolomic profiling of caffeine-containing holly species, including yaupon.
4. Health & Energy-Supporting Compounds of the Ilex Family
Study: Health Benefits of Bioactive Compounds from llex Species
What this research explored:
A comprehensive review of caffeinated beverages made from Ilex species (including yaupon, yerba mate, and guayusa).
5. Nitrogen Fertilizer & Gender Effects on Yaupon Chemistry
Study: Effects of yaupon, a caffeine-containing North American holly
What this research explored:
How nitrogen availability and plant sex (yaupon is dioecious) affect caffeine and phenolic compound production.
6. Ritual Black Drink Consumption at Cahokia
Study: Ritual Black Drink consumption at Cahokia
What this research explored:
Residue analysis of ceramic vessels from Cahokia and surrounding sites to identify biomarkers of caffeinated “Black Drink.”
Closing Note
We share this research to provide context—not medical claims. Many studies are early-stage or observational, and research on yaupon continues to evolve. Together, these papers help illuminate why this native plant has mattered for centuries—and why it’s being studied again today.
