The Origin
Serendipity in
the Delta.
Scipia (formerly Yazoo Yaupon) was founded in Clarksdale, Mississippi, by Oliver Luckett and his husband Scott Guinn when they returned to the Mississippi Delta after successful careers in California and Iceland. A moment of serendipity occurred at the home of Bill Luckett, Oliver's father, when a visiting ethnobotanist made a life-changing discovery of native Yaupon growing right in his backyard.
Always entrepreneurial, Scott and Oliver created the brand with their dear friends Frosti Gnarr and Michelle Van Duzen. We aim to help rebuild our small, beloved town by inspiring a new generation of Mississippians by example and inclusion.
"We plan to create jobs and help elevate and revitalize the Mississippi Delta, which is considered the Cradle of American Culture."
Why Mississippi?
For thousands of years, the Mississippi Delta was home to numerous indigenous people who dried Yaupon leaves and brewed them into a spiritual and ceremonial beverage.
By basing Scipia in Clarksdale, Mississippi—the heart and soul of the Delta—we aim to make this community a major hub for Yaupon farming and production. Along the way, we plan to create jobs and tell the story about a 100% American botanical with deep roots in rich Delta soil.