ORLANDO, Fla. — A former Volusia County beach cop who forages for his crop through woods and his partners have turned leaves once used by Native Americans in medicine and ceremonies into a big business for caffeine-craving customers.
Yaupon Brothers American Tea Company went through about 9,000 pounds of yaupon holly leaves last year and did just shy of $1 million in revenue, growing about 70% each year since 2019, said CEO and co-founder Bryon White.
Yaupon Brothers this month opened a café as part of its new 7,000-square-foot production facility at 504 Pullman Road in Edgewater, a city near New Smyrna Beach. Their old space was 900 square feet, and there is land at the new property to build more room as needed.
