Archeologists discover long tea tradition in North America
Recent archeological findings suggest that a caffeinated beverage was consumed in North America centuries before the continent was discovered. Ceramic beakers found at the ancient city of Cahokia, outside what's currently St. Louis, MO, contain traces of a highly caffeinated black drink brewed from a species of holly and hint at the popularity and cultural significance of the beverage. It turns out the beakers were found 400 kilometers from the nearest source of holly plants and 500 years before the Europeans described the brew in their journals. This suggests elaborate trade routes existed to supply the crop, while the high quality finish of the beakers indicates that the drink was highly valued.