Discover Yaupon Tea: Take a Free Tour of the Florida Farm That Revived America’s Native Tea

Crescent City, Florida is known for a variety of things, and between the city’s rich history and excellent fishing, you certainly have reasons to visit this special place. However, a short drive down the winding back roads of Old Highway 17 will lead you to another spot you need to add to your itinerary – Yaupon Brothers American Tea Co. This is the worldwide headquarters of the company that put yaupon on the map. If you’re not familiar with yaupon, let us introduce you to the only caffeinated plant that is native to the United States. Then book your free tour to visit Yaupon Brothers to experience it for yourself. 

What is yaupon tea?

Yaupon Holly is a native plant that grows in the wild. It’s been around for thousands of years, and Indigenous people plucked the leaves of the plant to create yaupon tea, which was used as a form of purification. They drank it out of whelk shells and believed that it facilitated mental, physical, and spiritual cleansing. Over time, yaupon tea lost its popularity and faded into obscurity – until Yaupon Brothers founder, Bryon White, had a vision to bring back this all-natural beverage. In turn, he also helped preserve an important part of history. He shared, “It’s not new, but it’s come back in a big way.” It’s now become an alternative for many tea drinkers, and Whole Foods once even named it as one of the next big food trends. 

Benefits of yaupon tea

Too much caffeine can give you the jitters, but one of the key differences you’ll find with yaupon tea is that it provides a caffeinated boost, but without that effect. It gives you a much more mellow feeling while still providing sustained energy. You won’t experience a dreaded caffeine crash, though. As an all-natural plant, it’s also really healthy and is a sustainable, eco-friendly choice. Some of the benefits include: 

• Rich in antioxidants
• No tannins like you would find in regular tea
• Contains theophylline, theobromine, and theacrine 
• Grown in the United States, creating a smaller carbon footprint
• Protects the land by helping prevent soil erosion 

It’s really delicious, too

It can be easy to assume that something that’s so good for you doesn’t taste good, but yaupon tea is actually really delicious. Since it doesn’t have tannins, you won’t taste any bitterness. It’s also virtually impossible to oversteep this tea. Yaupon Brothers American Tea C. has taken it a step further and has created a variety of flavors including:

• American Green
• Florida Chai
• Lavender Coconut
• Fire-Roasted Warrior’s Tea
• Revive Mint
• Spiced Peach
• Pumpkin Spice

Eagle’s Nest Farms – An organic farm and event venue 

The tea created by Yaupon Brothers is 100 percent organic, and that’s been a defining factor that’s always been important to them. When they found a 17-acre farm in Crescent City that was the location of one of the oldest organic farms in Florida, they knew it was a rare find. There was no doubt in their mind that it would serve as the perfect home base for Yaupon Brothers American Tea Co. 

The history of the farm goes back to 1900. It was owned by Levant P. DeWolf who was applying farming practices that were unique at that time. He didn’t believe in using chemicals, and although organic farming wasn’t really commercially accepted in those days, he held firm to his beliefs. Over time the farm ended up in the hands of Mary and Rod Mitchell who maintained the pristine, chemical-free land by growing organic fruit trees. They were pioneers in organic citrus and continued the legacy of Dewolf. In 1990, the U.S. Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act and the farm has been an organic certified farm since that certification was available. 

When Yaupon Brothers obtained the property in 2023, they continued sustainable, chemical-free farming techniques and all of their tea is certified organic. White had been harvesting from the wild and propagating yaupon for years, but the land in Crescent City was a perfect match for what they were seeking. Original buildings and structures remained on the property, further adding to its historical allure as well. Eagle’s Nest Farms now serves as a research and production facility for yaupon tea, and there’s also about 400 beehives on the property. It’s also the site of one of the most unique event venues in Putnam County. 

The event space at Eagle’s Nest Farms is perfect for those who are seeking an authentic, rustic-chic experience. The main event space is located inside one of the historical buildings that dates back to 1900. It’s been transformed into a welcoming space that weaves in decor that includes historical artifacts from the farm’s beginning days. It’s a one-of-a-kind venue that will create a memorable backdrop for birthday parties, showers, weddings, and more. They provide a variety of flexible options and you’re welcome to use your own caterer and bring your own drinks. However, they can also provide those amenities if needed. They even have a full-service wedding package if you don’t want to deal with any of the planning. 

Book a free farm tour 

Want to learn more about yaupon tea? You’re welcome to plan a visit where you’ll tour the tea factory, walk through fields of thousands of yaupon plants, and learn more about the intriguing history behind yaupon and Eagle’s Nest Farms. You can take a behind-the-scenes look at the production of this game-changing beverage, and you’ll walk away with a deeper connection to not only this plant, but the importance of native plants and organic farming. 

Putnam County is also well-known for its thriving arts scene, and you’ll get a taste of that at Eagle’s Nest Farms as well. Esteemed muralist Jules Muck has created captivating murals all around the world – including multiple ones at Eagle’s Nest Farms. The murals you’ll see there tie in the history and fishing themes that has given the city its notoriety. Now, the city has another claim to fame, though.

As the worldwide headquarters of one of the hottest new trends in the food and beverage world, you now have another reason to visit. There’s no charge to book a tour, and this is one of the best free things to do in Putnam County. Just email in advance to set up a day and time, and then set forth on Crescent City’s country roads that will lead you to Yaupon Brothers’ caffeinated fields at Eagle’s Nest Farms. Take a look up when you’re there, and you may even spot one of the resident bald eagles. 

Location
470 Old Highway 17
Crescent City, Florida 32112
Email to set up your free tour: hello@yauponbrothers.com