How is Goldholly yaupon tea made?
Goldholly yaupon is hand-harvested from wild ecosystems in the American Southeast (Texas and Florida), then small-batch roasted to three levels (Light, Medium, Dark) to unlock flavor and preserve alkaloids. The entire process—harvest, roasting, quality control, and packaging—happens in the United States, creating a fully traceable supply chain from soil to cup.
In a world filled with complex supply chains and a lack of transparency, it's more important than ever to know where your food and beverages originate from. At Goldholly, we believe the story of your tea should be as clean and pure as the tea itself. That's why we're giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the entire journey of our yaupon holly tea, from the moment it's harvested to the moment it's brewed in your cup.
This journey of bringing yaupon from its native ecosystems in the American Southeast to your cup is a testament to our unwavering commitment to quality, sustainability, and our 100% American-made promise.
Scene 1: The Harvest
Our story begins in the biodiverse, wild ecosystems of the American Southeast, where yaupon holly has grown for centuries. Our yaupon is carefully and responsibly harvested by hand, as our partners and farmers hand-trim the mature branches of the yaupon plant. This mindful process ensures the health of the plant, encourages new growth, and preserves the surrounding ecosystem. It's a labor of love that honors the plant's deep roots and allows it to continue thriving for future generations.
Scene 2: The Sourcing
Our commitment to American-made products is at the core of who we are. We partner exclusively with American farmers who share our values of regenerative agriculture and responsible land stewardship. By building these direct relationships, we not only ensure the quality of every leaf, but also support local economies and provide meaningful jobs in American communities. This direct-from-the-source model eliminates the long, complex global supply chains that are a hallmark of imported teas, allowing us to deliver a product that is fresher and more transparent.
This freshness matters. Yaupon's distinctive flavors and aromatics are volatile compounds that would otherwise fade during long ocean transit. By sourcing regionally, those delicate notes arrive intact, demonstrating the difference between domestically-sourced tea and imported tea.
Scene 3: The Roasting Process
This is where the magic happens! Once harvested, the yaupon leaves are carefully roasted in batches to ensure even quality. Roasting is the key to unlocking yaupon's full flavor and nutritional potential.
Roasting is what makes yaupon distinctive. While green tea is steamed and black tea is oxidized, our small-batch roasting process unlocks yaupon's natural complexity and is tailored to each of our roasts.
- Light Roast: A quick, gentle roast that preserves the delicate, green notes and a lighter body, bringing forward a delicate brightness in the tea.
- Medium Roast: A longer roast at a specific temperature to develop a balanced, smooth flavor with hints of wood and a natural sweetness. This is our most versatile roast.
- Dark Roast: A bold roast at a high temperature, bringing out rich, coffee-like notes and a full-bodied character that can stand up to milk and sweeteners.
This careful attention to detail ensures that the unique blend of caffeine, theobromine, and theacrine is perfectly preserved, giving you the best possible balance of smooth energy and rich flavor.
Scene 4: Quality Control & Packaging
Once roasted, the tea leaves undergo a final, meticulous quality control process to ensure purity and potency. We believe in total transparency, and this testing ensures the alkaloid balance between caffeine, theobromine, and theacrine remains optimal in every batch. It's why your energy lift from Goldholly feels consistent, smooth, and sustained.
Finally, the finished yaupon tea is packaged in materials that are both beautiful and sustainable. We use eco-friendly packaging to minimize our environmental footprint, because our commitment to the planet doesn't end when the tea leaves our facility. Our teabags are produced in a USDA organic certified, SQF Level II facility, mitigating the risk of harmful microplastics.
The journey of every Goldholly leaf is a story of quality, transparency, and a deep respect for the American land and its traditions. When you brew a cup of Goldholly, you're tasting Southeastern forests, American craftsmanship, and a supply chain you can trace from soil to cup. That clarity shows up as clean flavor, consistent energy, and the quiet satisfaction of knowing exactly where your tea comes from.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Goldholly yaupon tea harvested?
Goldholly yaupon is hand-harvested from wild ecosystems in the American Southeast, specifically from partner farms in Texas and Florida. The yaupon holly plant is native to this region and has grown there for centuries, allowing for sustainable local sourcing.
How is yaupon tea harvested?
Yaupon is carefully harvested by hand through selective trimming of mature branches. This mindful process ensures the health of the plant, encourages new growth, and preserves the surrounding ecosystem. Hand-harvesting allows the yaupon to continue thriving for future generations.
What is the roasting process for yaupon tea?
Goldholly uses small-batch roasting tailored to three levels: Light Roast (quick, gentle roasting for delicate brightness), Medium Roast (balanced roasting for smooth flavor with natural sweetness), and Dark Roast (bold, high-temperature roasting for rich, coffee-like notes). This process unlocks yaupon's natural complexity while preserving its alkaloid profile.
Is Goldholly yaupon tea 100% American-made?
Yes. The entire process—from hand-harvesting in Texas and Florida, through roasting and quality control, to packaging—happens exclusively in the United States. We partner only with American farmers and facilities, creating a fully domestic supply chain from soil to cup.
How does Goldholly ensure quality control?
After roasting, yaupon leaves undergo meticulous quality control testing to ensure purity and potency. We test each batch to verify the optimal alkaloid balance between caffeine, theobromine, and theacrine remains consistent, ensuring smooth, sustained energy in every cup.
What makes small-batch roasting better?
Small-batch roasting allows precise control over temperature and time, ensuring even quality and optimal flavor development. This attention to detail preserves yaupon's unique alkaloid profile (caffeine, theobromine, theacrine) while unlocking the natural complexity specific to each roast level.
How does regional sourcing affect tea freshness?
Regional sourcing dramatically improves freshness. Yaupon's distinctive flavors and aromatics are volatile compounds that fade during long-distance transit. By sourcing from the American Southeast (hundreds of miles vs. thousands), those delicate notes arrive intact, unlike imported teas that cross oceans in shipping containers.
Is Goldholly packaging sustainable?
Yes. We use eco-friendly packaging to minimize environmental footprint. Our teabags are produced in a USDA organic certified, SQF Level II facility, mitigating the risk of harmful microplastics. Our commitment to sustainability extends through the entire production process.
Can I trace where my Goldholly tea comes from?
Yes. Our direct relationships with American farmers in Texas and Florida, combined with our domestic processing facilities, create a fully traceable supply chain. You can trace every Goldholly leaf from specific ecosystems in the Southeast through our processing partners to your cup.