Move over, quad latte.
Researchers at UF are developing a new caffeinated beverage that serves as a pick-me-up and an antioxidant.
Made from Yaupon Holly, a plant native to the southeastern United States, the drink resembles a beverage consumed by European explorers and the Timucua American Indians three centuries ago.
Yaupon Holly contains caffeine and antioxidants, said Matt Palumbo, who received a master's degree from UF's botany program and co-authored the UF study on the plant.
To formulate the drink, Palumbo cuts the leaves from the stems and places them on a heating skillet. Then he crushes the dry, crispy leaves with his bare hands before tossing them in a pot, adding boiling water and letting them simmer.
He said the taste of the dark brown drink is similar to green tea and could be especially popular among the health-conscious, though milk or sugar could be added to make it tastier.
"It's a matter of convincing people to drink something that might actually be good for them," he said.
Professor Linda Bobroff, who holds a doctorate in nutrition, said antioxidants help rid the body of free radicals that can build up and damage cells. They can be found mostly in green tea, fruits and vegetables, and it is believed that they can prevent cancer and aging, she said.
Focusing on a selectively bred cultivation of Yaupon called Nana, the researchers found it had about half the antioxidant content of green tea, according to the press release.
On the other hand, the leaves only contained between 0.65 percent and 0.85 percent caffeine by weight. This is significantly less than coffee beans, which have 1.1 percent, and tea leaves, which have 3.5 percent.
After using small quantities of nitrogen fertilizer, Nana production increased by 35 percent, and caffeine content rose by 265 percent, Palumbo said. However, antioxidant quantity was unaffected.
Palumbo said negativity surrounding the plant may have prevented it from widespread use. "Yaupon eaters," a derogatory term used in North Carolina, described someone who did not have enough money to buy high-class products like coffee, Palumbo said.
Palumbo also said the drink could have a social impact - having a local caffeine source could alleviate pressure on coffee-farming regions worldwide.
Asia, Malaysia and Indonesia have faced high rates of deforestation due to coffee farming, he said.
"This is a way to expose Floridians to a plant that can be grown in their backyard and that can produce a tea that is caffeinated and has antioxidants," he said.
But Andres Duarte, UF aerospace engineering major, said he would not replace coffee with any other caffeinated beverage.
"I grew up with coffee, and that to me it is as important as drinking water," he said. "I just love the aroma and the taste."
