Yaupon Wins: An Ethnobotanical Novella
Yaupon Wins: An Ethnobotanical Novella
By F. E. "Jack" Putz, Distinguished Professor of Biology, University of Florida
The Hogtowne Cooters football team miraculously started to win after adopting an elaborate tea ceremony as a pre-game ritual. The tea is brewed from yaupon, a local plant that was historically a favorite of Amerindians but little-known and seldom consumed in modern times. The ritual involves chanting in the long-dead language of Timucuan Indians and antics adopted from the famous Maori Hakas of New Zealand’s ‘All Black’ rugby team. The Drug Enforcement Agency is investigating, developers of the famous ‘CrocJuice’ sports drink are interested, and coaches of the losing teams are protesting.
Readers will find themselves caught up in story of the provider of the tea, a young boy who loves sports and anything Indian. After reading this fast-moving tale, readers might feel themselves compelled to collect yaupon leaves and brew up a cup of tea for themselves.
Paperback; 39 pages; Size 6 x 9; blk/wht photos
