Black drink is a tea, made from toasted leaves of the American holly (Ilex vomitoria), and, according to the latest archaeological research, it was used by Native American groups in North America by at least 1,050 AD, and likely considerably earlier.
Black drink may well have looked like this, a home-made cup of yerba maté tea, made from another species of holly, Ilex paraguariensis. Photo (and tea) made by Tracy Ruggles
We are told each year when we buy holly for the Christmas holiday season that the berries are poisonous: but in many parts of the world, the leaves of some holly plants have been used to make teas for centuries. Holly leaves are the main ingredient in guayusa and yerba mate teas: and it might not come as a big surprise, since the main active ingredient in both of those teas is caffeine.
Oh, and by the way, there is a historical cultural reason for the "vomitoria" part.
- Read more about Black Drink
- American Holly (Ilex vomitoria), ancient caffeine source
Comments
The Black Drink was not made from the leaves of the American Holly, which has the scientific name “Ilex opaca”. Instead, it was made from the much smaller and thornless leaves of the Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria), which is more often in a shrub form as opposed to the American Holly, which is a tree. You can purchase yaupon holly at most home improvement stores where it is sold as a hedge. Of course if you live in the Deep South like I do, you’ll pass on by it, because the woods are overrun with it.