A historical black-and-white photograph depicting a Catawba family standing together in front of a wooden-sided home.
A historical black-and-white photograph of a group of Catawba people, including men wearing traditional feathered headdresses and fringed regalia, standing on the steps of a brick building.
A historical black-and-white photograph of Catawba women and children sitting on a porch with their traditional hand-built pottery displayed on steps in the foreground.

Our Story

For more than 6,000 years, the Catawba people have lived upon the banks of the Catawba River.  Before European contact, the Catawba were one of the largest and most influential Native Nations in the Southeast. Disease, land loss, and centuries of colonization reduced the population to fewer than 100 people by the early 1800s.

Despite these hardships, the Catawba endured.  As a traditionally matriarchal society, Catawba women played a vital role in preserving their people, culture, and traditions. Their renowned hand-built pottery became both a source of income and a symbol of resilience, helping families remain on their ancestral lands and playing a critical role in saving the Nation during one of the darkest chapters in its history.

Following in the footsteps of those remarkable women, a Catawba mother-and-daughter created Catawba Yaupon to preserve their heritage by restoring the knowledge, traditions, and cultural significance of yaupon. Like the pottery makers before them, they are using traditional knowledge to strengthen their culture and community, honor their ancestors and help ensure this treasured part of Native American tradition is preserved and carried forward for the next seven generations.

A black and white archival portrait of Chief David One Toad Harris wearing a formal vest and suit jacket.

Chief David (One Toad) Harris (1906-1917)

The Smithsonian portrait of One Toad presents a striking image that differs from the familiar stereotype of Native leaders in feathered headdresses. Instead, he is shown wearing a three-piece wool suit with short hair—a powerful reflection of the pressures faced by many Eastern Native nations during the era of colonization.
On the front lines of European settlement, many Eastern tribes, including the Catawba, were compelled to adopt Western clothing, language, and customs in order to survive. While the Catawba people were not forcibly removed on the Trail of Tears, they endured centuries of displacement, cultural suppression, and land loss. Unlike many Southeastern tribes, however, they remained on a portion of their ancestral homeland along the Catawba River, where their people have lived for more than 6,000 years. Today, their descendants are working to preserve and revitalize their culture, language, and traditions.

A woman wearing a purple t-shirt and jeans smiles while gathering fresh Yaupon holly sprigs into a traditional woven basket in a sun-drenched, natural field.

Note From The Founders

As great-granddaughters of Chief David Adam Harris (One Toad), we feel a deep responsibility to carry forward the legacy of our ancestors. During his lifetime, Native people were encouraged—and often forced—to give up their language, ceremonies, traditional foods, and ways of life. Much of the knowledge surrounding yaupon—once an important part of daily life, ceremony, wellness, and community—was nearly erased.

Catawba Yaupon is our way of giving something back to our people. By restoring awareness of North America's only native caffeinated plant, we hope to reconnect future generations with a meaningful part of their history and culture while sharing its story with the world.

This is our quiet act of defiance —a commitment to preserve what others tried to erase, to honor those who came before us, and to ensure that the knowledge, traditions, and spirit of our people continue to live on for generations to come.

— Bobbie and Ashlin 
Founders of Catawba Yaupon

Our Mission

To honor our ancestors by restoring yaupon to its rightful place within Native communities — while sharing the beauty, history, and purpose of this sacred plant with the world.

We are committed to preserving Indigenous traditions, supporting cultural connection, and crafting premium yaupon tea that reflects authenticity, sustainability, and respect for the land. Every blend we create — from plant to package — is made with care rooted in over a century of Catawba heritage.

Frequently asked questions about Catawba Yaupon

Who founded Catawba Yaupon?

Catawba Yaupon was founded by a Catawba mother and daughter — great-granddaughters of David Adam Harris ("Toad"), Chief of the Catawba Nation from 1906 to 1922. They established the company to honor their ancestors and restore yaupon to its rightful place within Native communities.

Is Catawba Yaupon an Indigenous-owned company?

Yes. Catawba Yaupon is 100% Native American–made and owned by members of the Catawba Nation. Every stage of production — from harvest to finished blend — reflects that heritage and commitment.

Why did the founders start a yaupon tea company?

The founders saw an opportunity to restore a plant that was central to Indigenous life for over a thousand years but had nearly disappeared from mainstream awareness. Starting this company was an act of cultural responsibility — to preserve Indigenous traditions, support cultural connection, and share the beauty of yaupon with the world.

What does "Catawba" mean in the company name?

Catawba refers to the Catawba Nation — the Indigenous nation of the founders. The word "yaupon" itself derives from a Catawba-language word for "small tree," making the company name a direct tribute to both the people and the plant's linguistic heritage.

What is the mission of Catawba Yaupon?

To honor their ancestors by restoring yaupon to its rightful place within Native communities, while sharing the beauty, history, and purpose of this sacred plant with the world. The company is committed to preserving Indigenous traditions, supporting cultural connection, and crafting premium yaupon tea that reflects authenticity, sustainability, and respect for the land.

How does buying Catawba Yaupon support Indigenous communities?

Every purchase directly supports a 100% Native American–owned and operated business. The company's work helps sustain Indigenous foodways, create appreciation for Native plant knowledge, and preserve cultural traditions — not as history, but as living practice.