A Taste of Texas, Two Ways

By Abianne Falla Nov 12, 2025

At CatSpring Yaupon, we’ve always believed that the best things grow wild—and close to home. Just like yaupon holly tea, the only naturally caffeinated plant native to North America, pecans are a proud part of our Texas roots.

These cinnamon roasted pecans come from Millican Pecan Company, a family-run orchard that’s been harvesting in San Saba, Texas, since 1888. That’s over a century of pecan-growing wisdom—and it shows in every buttery, cinnamon-kissed bite.

Why Cinnamon Pecans + Yaupon Work So Well Together

Warm, crisp, and just the right amount of sweet, these Grade 1 candied pecans are carefully roasted and coated in a cozy cinnamon glaze. They’re the kind of snack you find yourself reaching for again... and again. (Trust us, we’ve done it, too.)

Pair that sweet heat with the smooth, earthy finish of our roasted yaupon tea, and something truly special happens.

It’s the ultimate balance of flavor and function — Texas native tea meets Texas native nut.

Perfect for Gifting Season

Whether you're building a Christmas gift basket, shopping our holiday gift sets, or just looking for the perfect gift for someone special, our curated boxes featuring yaupon and cinnamon pecans hit just the right note.

For the foodie: These cinnamon pecans aren’t your average snack. They're orchard-fresh and made in small batches—perfect for grazing, gifting, or baking into holiday pies and crumbles.
For the tea lover: Pair with a sampler of yaupon holly tea for a mindful moment of calm amidst the seasonal rush.

Rooted in Place and Tradition

What makes this pairing extra special? Both yaupon holly and pecans are deeply rooted in the Southern landscape.

Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) has been used for centuries by Indigenous communities for its energizing and ceremonial properties. Today, we harvest and roast it sustainably in Cat Spring, Texas, preserving that legacy with every cup.
These San Saba pecans come from trees that have been producing for generations—not industrial facilities. This isn’t mass production. This is heritage.

Together, these two Texas-grown treasures celebrate what’s local, seasonal, and meaningful.

Ready to Gift the Taste of Texas?

Whether you're treating loved ones or curating a moment of calm for yourself, our holiday gift sets featuring cinnamon pecans and yaupon tea are made to be savored and shared.

Because sometimes, the best gifts really do grow close to home.

Back to Yaupon

FAQs

Yaupon (pronounced yō-pon) is a naturally caffeinated herbal tea made from the Yaupon Holly—the only plant in North America that offers a native source of caffeine. Rooted in centuries of Indigenous tradition, it’s known for its smooth, welcoming flavor and gentle, steady lift.

Here’s what people love about it:

Grows wild in Texas’ sandy-loam soil
Hand-harvested and gently roasted for smooth flavor
Naturally sweet and always smooth, never bitter

In Summary, Yaupon tea is a uniquely American, naturally energizing brew that’s smooth and enjoyable to drink.

Yaupon is naturally tannin-free, so it never becomes bitter—a key difference from green or black tea. It delivers the antioxidant benefits people look for in tea, but with a smoother, naturally sweet flavor and none of the astringency.

What sets it apart:

Combines the benefits of green and black tea while avoiding the downsides of each (bitterness, jitters, & sustainability concerns)
Yaupon is rich in antioxidants that combat oxidative stress and promote overall health & longevity
Powered by a rare trifecta of caffeine, theobromine & theacrine for a joyful, steady energy you won’t find in other teas

In Summary, Yaupon offers the benefits of tea with a smoother taste and cleaner energy, without bitterness or environmental strain.

Yes, Yaupon naturally contains caffeine—about 25 mg per 8–14 ounce cup—alongside theobromine and theacrine, a rare trio of naturally occurring compounds that create a joyful, steady lift.

What makes it special:

Naturally occurring caffeine
A smooth, steady upward feeling
No spike-and-crash pattern
Supports focus, clarity, and presence

In Summary, Yaupon provides a smooth, steady energy unlike anything found in traditional teas.

Modern research is beginning to affirm what Indigenous communities have known for generations—this is a plant that gently nourishes, sip by sip.

Why people feel good drinking it:

Naturally rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, and beneficial alkaloids
Tannin-free, making it smooth and easy on the stomach
Offers joyful, gentle caffeine without the spike or discomfort
Supports clear focus, balanced mood, and grounded energy

In Summary, Yaupon is a naturally giving plant, trusted for generations to offer clarity, steadiness, and gentle nourishment.

Learn More Here

Our Yaupon is wild-harvested across native Texas lands, where it thrives in sandy-loam soil without irrigation or chemicals. Each harvest reflects careful stewardship of the land and the long Indigenous traditions of gathering Yaupon in the American South.

Where it begins:

Transparent, traceable sourcing from leaf to label
Partnering with local ranchers and land owners to gather only what nature allows—by hand, respectfully, and sustainably
A People First Employment Initiative process that supports rural Texans

In Summary, our Yaupon comes straight from wild Texas landscapes where every cup reflects connection—to land, community, and nature.

Yaupon carries a smooth, naturally sweet flavor that reflects the Texas landscapes where it grows.

How each roast shows up in the cup:

Pedernales Green — crisp + bright
Clean and refreshing with delicate grassy notes, subtle savoriness, and a bright, earthy finish. A calming, green-hued cup inspired by the quiet limestone banks of the Pedernales River.
Lost Maples Medium Roast — golden + mellow
Smooth and warm with caramel, raisin, and toasted nut undertones. A mellow, comforting cup echoing the golden colors of Texas’ iconic Lost Maples in autumn.
Marfa Dark Roast — rich + toasty
Elegant and deeply roasted with warm, nutty sweetness and a subtle, earthy complexity. A sophisticated cup honoring the creative spirit of Marfa’s high-desert landscape.

In Summary, every cup of Yaupon reflects the Texas landscape—crisp, warm, or richly toasty, yet always smooth.

See What Customers Are Saying

Some teas demand precision—Yaupon isn’t one of them. Hot or iced, quick or slow, Yaupon simply meets you where you are.

What makes it so easy:

Stays smooth and clear, no matter the steeping time
Never becomes bitter or astringent
Consistent and clean whether served hot or iced

In Summary, Yaupon is effortlessly easy to brew—always smooth, always steady, and impossible to over-steeped.

Yaupon Tea Brewing Guide

Yaupon thrives in the wild without the need for irrigation, fertilizers, or pesticides, making it inherently sustainable. Through responsible wild-harvesting and Regenerative Organic Certified practices, Yaupon helps restore soil health and support native ecosystems.

What makes it regenerative:

Harvested from existing native ecosystems, not farmed fields
Leaves plants rooted and ecosystems intact through hand-harvesting
Supports healthy soil, carbon capture, and clean water cycles

In Summary, Yaupon isn’t just sustainably grown—it actively supports the revival of native Texas grasslands, helping the land flourish for generations to come.

Learn more about our sustainability practices here.

CatSpring Yaupon is gathered where it grows naturally—on native Texas land—rather than farmed or cultivated. We keep each plant rooted, harvest by hand, craft our roasts in small batches, and center our work on regenerative land care and meaningful rural employment.

What sets us apart: