Show christmas ck as holly I 1 makes tasty tea holly is useful for something be sides christmas wreaths yaupon a shrub which grows profusely la in certain sections of north carolina can be drewea into tea and is actually on the menu of one carolinian hotel it s an old story to old timers of the region they ve been drinking yaupon tea for centuries and swear that it has all kinds of good aties the indians before them used it and john lawson an early fistori an said the shrub was so highly valued that it was carried into the inland where it fetched a fabulous price from indian tribes actually yaupon is an american holly but is closely akin to mate the drink so popular in south america both drunks drinks are pre pared much the same way the leaves are cured with hot stones in a barrel and then chopped up twigs included and dried out in an oven leaves and twigs are then steeped in hot water and syrup orange juice lemon juice and cinnamon are added so at christmas instead of throwing away that dried up wreath try brewing it up into a pot of tea |