#49: Ancient Morning Brew

Most of us need a cup of coffee or tea to get going in the morning. The caffeine gives us a nice buzz that sparks some much-needed energy. Interestingly, the addictive properties of caffeine have always appealed to humans. There is evidence that indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica drank a caffeinated drink with cacao and yaupon holly leaves.

The residue of the ceremonial drink has been found on pottery shards in Colorado all the way down to modern-day Chihuahua, Mexico. This widespread discovery suggests that people were actively traveling and trading this special beverage. When the Spainards invaded, they liked the way this holly and cacao drink made them feel. They left behind the earliest written accounts of caffeine addiction.