Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1922-09-22
WHEN THEY DRANK YAUPON.
Indian Tea Once Popular OH the Allan
tic Coast.

With the increasing prominence of
things South American growing num-
Der of people have learned of mate. pro-
nounced mahtay, often called Para
guayan tea, which is extensively used as
a beverage in certain parts of South
America. A fewer number of people
however, realize that the United States
has closely related species. This is
the lex vomitoria, which greatly rcsem-
bles the Hex paraguayensis Of South
America, from which the drink mate is
brewed.
While actual medicinal properties are
not claimed for mate it is considered
healthful, refreshing and mildly stimu-
lating, and tradition exists that it can
be used to wean n drnker from alcohol
The leaves only are used, and the tea
brewed by sleeping them in boiling
water. Mate is taken through little
silver tube, the native mate cups being
often formed from polished gourds, with
handsome silver rims and ornamental
ton.
The closely related species found in
the United States has almost similar
properties and uses. The yaupon, as it
was called, furnished the leaves which
served in pioneer days as II substitute
for tea. When properly collected and
prepared the leaves of the yaupon have
pleasant if not actually valuable quail
ties IaupOn tea was used daily by the
great majority of the people along the
South Atlantic seaboard for consider
able period.
The plant which yielded this once i'm
portant product and which belongs to
the holly family is described by c. ID.
Nell, writing in the magazine of the
American Foestry association. ms II shrub
or low tree growing plcntifully along the
Atlantic coast from Virginia southwark
to Florida, and attaining its best devel-
opment on the edges of sand dunes and
fringing the swamps along the coast,
where it is easily accessible. Its leaves
are quite small and dark. glossy green.
1t has white flowers which are followed
by small. bright red berries, which re-
main on the bush for months.
Early white settlers in the South
learned the use of the leaves of the yau-
pom from the Indians, who made tea OF
drink" and which they said enlivened
them. Many white people having learned
to drink it, preferred it to the imported
tea. In the writings of many early trav-
elers in this country it is mentioned, be-
ing spoken of as a most agreeable drink.
The Creek Indians sent regularly to
the seaboard for supplies of the leaves,
using the yaupon tea at the opening of
their councils. They also prepared it
differently, making an exceedingly strong
| infusion of the leaves Mt certain periods
of the year and drinking it TO excess, NO
as to cause vomiting, which they re-
| garded as periodically necessary to purify
their bodies.
AS it's name indicates, the plant does
possess emetic properties. when taken in
sufficient quantities, and it also has
tonic and digestive qualities, free from
any insomnia producing effects. Recent
chemical Investigations show that the
leaves contain caffein, the same active
property which is found in coffee. They
contain also another principle which is
said to act rs "A powerful diuretic and
which is employed in nephritic diseases,
| diabetes, govt and smallpox.