1. A holly shrub or small tree native to the southeastern United States, bearing red berries and used traditionally to make a caffeinated beverage.
Usage: Also called yaupon holly or cassine; Regional, primarily southeastern U.S.
2. A beverage made from the leaves and stems of the cassina plant, traditionally consumed by Native Americans and early colonists.
Usage: Historical and regional usage

Examples

• The cassina plant grows wild in the coastal regions of the Carolinas and Florida.
• Native Americans prepared cassina as a ceremonial drink centuries before European contact.
• Early settlers learned to brew cassina from local tribes in the Southeast.
• The cassina shrub produces bright red berries that persist through winter.
• Cassina contains caffeine naturally, making it an energizing beverage.
• Botanists classify cassina as a member of the holly family.