How does buying American-grown yaupon tea support local farmers and communities?
Buying tea made from yaupon holly grown in the U.S. directly supports domestic farmers through reliable income streams while strengthening rural economies. According to the USDA, local food sales topped $11.7 billion in 2014, with the 2022 Agricultural Census showing continued growth in regional food systems. When you choose domestically-sourced tea, farmers retain more of the value-added revenue that would otherwise go to international middlemen.
Local sourcing also reduces environmental impact. International tea and coffee transportation accounts for approximately 15% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the beverage supply chain, with cargo ships consuming up to 63,000 gallons of marine fuel daily. Domestic sourcing eliminates thousands of miles of overseas shipping, multiple packaging stages, and extended refrigeration needs that imported products require.
Beyond economics and environment, American yaupon cultivation honors a tradition spanning thousands of years. Indigenous tribes including the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Creek cultivated this native plant—the only caffeinated species indigenous to North America—long before European contact.
The story of what we consume can often feel distant and disconnected. We buy products without knowing who grew them, where they came from, or what their journey was like. At Goldholly, transparency, sustainability, and community relationships guide everything we do, and every leaf of our tea reflects the work and dedication of American farmers.
Our commitment to a 100% American-made product goes beyond a simple promise—it's how we think the beverage industry should work.
Why Domestic Sourcing Matters More Than You Might Think
The global market for tea and coffee involves complex supply chains where it can be difficult to verify labor conditions, fair wages, and environmental practices from thousands of miles away. While ethical growers certainly exist abroad, transparency remains a persistent challenge in international agriculture.
By sourcing our yaupon exclusively from within the United States, we build direct, personal relationships with our partners and can verify that every step aligns with our values.
The Economics of Local Food Systems
The USDA recognizes strengthening local and regional food systems as one of four key pillars of rural economic development. Local food sales topped $11.7 billion in 2014,1 and the 2022 Agricultural Census reveals significant growth in both the number of farms engaging in local sales and the value of these sales.2
For small farmers, direct marketing to consumers accounts for a higher percentage of their sales compared to larger industrial operations. By eliminating middlemen and the complexities of global trade, more revenue flows directly to the people growing the crops. As the USDA Economic Research Service notes, direct sales help farmers "retain some of the value-added captured by other firms further down the supply chain."3
Partnerships Rooted in Community and Indigenous Tradition
The foundation of Goldholly's approach is not just the native plant we work with, but also the people who cultivate it. We partner with small American family farms in the Southeast that share our commitment to regenerative agriculture and sustainable land management. One of our key suppliers is a Chickasaw-owned regenerative family farm—a partnership that honors the deep indigenous history of yaupon cultivation.
Honoring Yaupon's Indigenous Roots
For thousands of years, indigenous tribes including the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Timucua, and Apalachee cultivated and traded yaupon throughout the Southeast.4,5 The Cherokee called yaupon "the beloved tree."5 Archaeological evidence shows yaupon consumption dating back to at least 750 AD, with some estimates suggesting use extends back 8,000 years.4
Yaupon was so valued that tribes transplanted it beyond its natural coastal range and traded it extensively; ornate ceremonial vessels containing yaupon residue have been found as far north as Cahokia, near present-day St. Louis.6 The plant served both practical and ceremonial purposes, consumed daily for energy while also playing a role in purification ceremonies, preparation for important decisions, and community gatherings.4,5
By working with Chickasaw farmers and other domestic growers, we're helping to revive this native agricultural tradition while supporting the communities who cultivated it for millennia.
Supporting Rural Economies
Our direct partnerships provide American farmers with reliable income and a stable market for their crops. This approach helps strengthen rural economies and contributes to more resilient local food systems, which is something particularly important as agricultural communities face ongoing economic pressures.
The farmers we partner with are stewards of the land with intimate knowledge of the ecosystems where yaupon naturally thrives. By working with them, we support agricultural methods that replenish soil and encourage biodiversity rather than depleting resources.
How Does American Sourcing Reduce Environmental Impact?
International transportation accounts for approximately 15% of greenhouse gas emissions in coffee's lifecycle, with similar impacts for imported tea.7,8 When beverages travel from tropical growing regions to consumer markets in North America and Europe, the environmental costs add up quickly.
The Hidden Carbon Cost of Imported Beverages
Cargo ships transporting coffee and tea can consume up to 63,000 gallons of marine fuel per day when carrying large container loads.7 These vessels run on heavy fuel oil—the thick residue left after crude oil refining—which is one of the most polluting petroleum products available.
Beyond direct transportation emissions, imported products require multiple stages of packaging, extended refrigeration during shipping, and passage through various production checkpoints and distribution centers before reaching their destination. Each stage adds to the overall environmental footprint.
Domestic sourcing eliminates thousands of miles of overseas cargo transport, reducing the carbon footprint associated with your daily cup. While growing and processing still require energy, cutting out international shipping removes a significant source of emissions from the supply chain.
What You Get: Traceability and Quality
This direct-from-the-source approach benefits both farmers and consumers.
Complete Transparency
With our domestic supply chain, we have complete traceability. We know exactly where our yaupon comes from, how it was grown, and who tended to it. This level of transparency is rare in the beverage industry.
Consistent Quality Standards
Our close relationships with our farmers allow us to maintain high standards from the moment the leaf is picked. We work together to ensure that every leaf meets our quality requirements, resulting in the clean flavor and purity you expect from every cup of Goldholly tea.
Our Vision for the Future
We're working to expand our network of American farmers and demonstrate what a transparent, ethical, and sustainable beverage industry can look like. By choosing Goldholly, you're not only enjoying energizing tea with health benefits, but you're also making a direct impact on American communities. You're supporting a system that honors both the land and the people who work it, while reviving an indigenous agricultural tradition that deserves recognition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does yaupon naturally grow in the United States?
Yaupon is native to the Southeastern United States, growing naturally from coastal Virginia, south to Florida, and west to Texas.4 It thrives in coastal areas and has been successfully cultivated in inland regions as well. Yaupon is the only caffeinated plant species native to North America, making it uniquely suited to domestic cultivation within its native range.
How did indigenous tribes traditionally use yaupon?
Indigenous tribes including the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Timucua, and Apalachee used yaupon for both daily consumption and ceremonial purposes for thousands of years.4,5 The Cherokee called it "the beloved tree."5 Tribes drank yaupon as an everyday energizing beverage and also incorporated it into purification ceremonies, pre-battle rituals, and important decision-making gatherings.4 Yaupon was so valued that tribes transplanted it beyond its natural range and traded it extensively throughout North America.6
What happened to yaupon tea after colonization?
European colonists initially adopted yaupon tea enthusiastically in the 17th and 18th centuries,9 exporting it to Europe under names like "Carolina Tea" and "Appalachian Tea." However, by the late 1700s, the British East India Company viewed American yaupon as a threat to their tea monopoly. In 1789, botanist William Aiton gave yaupon the scientific name "Ilex vomitoria,"10 associating it with vomiting despite the plant having no emetic properties. This naming convention, combined with forced indigenous relocation and class-based stigma in the 19th century, caused yaupon to largely fade from American culture until its recent revival in the 2010s.
How does buying local food support rural economies?
Local food systems create economic benefits through multiplier effects that ripple throughout communities. According to USDA data, local food sales topped $11.7 billion in 2014,1 with continued growth shown in the 2022 Agricultural Census.2 For small farms, direct sales account for a higher percentage of total revenue compared to large industrial operations.3 By cutting out international middlemen, farmers retain more value-added revenue, which helps preserve small farms, create jobs in processing and distribution, and strengthen the overall resilience of rural economies.
What is the carbon footprint of imported tea and coffee?
International transportation accounts for approximately 15% of total greenhouse gas emissions in coffee's lifecycle, with similar impacts for tea.7,8 Cargo ships carrying coffee and tea can consume up to 63,000 gallons of marine fuel per day,7 running on heavy fuel oil—one of the most polluting petroleum products. Beyond direct shipping emissions, imported beverages require multiple packaging stages, extended refrigeration, and passage through various distribution centers. One cup of black coffee or tea produces about 21g of CO2 from brewing, but the transportation and processing of imported products adds significantly to this base footprint.
Why is transparency difficult with imported tea?
When tea travels thousands of miles through complex international supply chains, verifying labor conditions, fair wages, and environmental practices becomes extremely challenging. Products may pass through multiple farms, processors, exporters, and distributors before reaching consumers. While ethical growers certainly exist internationally, the distance and number of intermediaries make it difficult for brands and consumers to verify claims about working conditions, pesticide use, or sustainable farming practices. Domestic sourcing allows for direct relationships and firsthand verification of growing and processing methods.
What is regenerative agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture focuses on farming practices that restore and improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and sequester carbon rather than depleting natural resources. These practices include minimizing soil disturbance, using cover crops, reducing chemical inputs, and integrating diverse plant species. Yaupon is particularly well-suited to regenerative systems because it's a perennial woody plant that stabilizes soil, prevents erosion, provides wildlife habitat, and can remain productive for decades. Working with regenerative farms means supporting agriculture that gives back to the land while producing high-quality crops.
References
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2015, June 30). Obama Administration Assists Communities in Building Local Food Systems to Foster Economic Growth [Press release]. Available at: USDA Press Release
- National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. (2025, February 11). Census of Agriculture Reveals the Promise of Regional Food Systems. Available at: https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/census-of-agriculture-reveals-the-promise-of-regional-food-systems/
- Martinez, S., et al. (2010). Local Food Systems: Concepts, Impacts, and Issues. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. Report No. ERR-97. Available at: https://ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details?pubid=46395
- Hudson, C. M. (Ed.). (1979). Black Drink: A Native American Tea. Athens: University of Georgia Press.
- Merrill, W. L. (1979). The Beloved Tree: Ilex vomitoria among the Indians of the Southeast and Adjacent Regions. In C. M. Hudson (Ed.), Black Drink: A Native American Tea (pp. 40-82). Athens: University of Georgia Press.
- Crown, P. L., et al. (2012). Ritual Black Drink consumption at Cahokia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(35), 13944-13949. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1208404109
- Gallagher, E., et al. (2020). Life cycle assessment synthesis of the carbon footprint of Arabica coffee: Case study of Brazil and Vietnam conventional and sustainable coffee production and export to the United Kingdom. The Geographical Journal, 187(1), 3-16. DOI: 10.1002/geo2.96
- Killian, B., et al. (2013). Carbon Footprint across the Coffee Supply Chain: The Case of Costa Rican Coffee. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, B3, 151-170.
- Ximenez, F. (1615). Quatro libros de la naturaleza y virtudes medicinales de las plantas y animales de la Nueva España. [Historical record of Spanish colonial yaupon consumption]
- Aiton, W. (1789). Hortus Kewensis: or, a Catalogue of the Plants Cultivated in the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew. London: George Nicol. [Original classification of Ilex vomitoria]