Description
Brewing Instructions
Strength: we recommend using a ratio of 3 grams of leaves (1.5-2 teaspoons) per 250ml (one cup) of water. With our pure blend, this ratio gives about 60-70mg of caffeine per cup – more than a cup of black tea (usually 45mg) but less than a cup of coffee (between 90 and 200mg of caffeine). You can play around with this ratio to find your preferred taste and effect, which will depend on your caffeine sensitivity!
Method:
Hot Tea: drop the leaves into a French Press, loose leaf teapot, or brewing basket, and pour over boiling water. Let the leaves infuse for 5-15 minutes. Then strain and serve – simple as that!
Iced Tea (1st way): brew as a hot tea, let it cool to room temp, and then refrigerate.
Iced tea (2nd way): for a faster way, brew as a hot tea at double strength, and then pour over ice to cool and dilute it.
Adding freshly squeezed lemon juice and organic honey to an iced guayusa gives extra flavour, and serves as a great all-natural pre-workout for the gym!
What is Guayusa Tea?
Guayusa (“why-you-sa”) is a nourishing and energising leaf found almost exclusively in the Amazon rainforests of Ecuador. It has been revered by indigenous communities in the region for centuries, who brew it as a tea each morning to start their day with energy & focus.
In the last decade, guayusa has broken out of obscurity and is now being discovered around the world as an increasingly popular source of caffeine and an alternative to coffee, green/black tea and even energy drinks.
Here’s why:
Clean Energy
As revealed in a recent study, guayusa’s slow-release caffeine stimulates the mind but doesn’t spike adrenaline (our fight or flight hormone) the way traditional sources of caffeine do. The result is a longer-lasting and jitter-free energy that, simply put, feels better.
Nourishing
The guayusa leaf is packed with antioxidants (even more than green tea), and is particularly rich in chlorogenic acid. Research suggests that this organic compound helps to improve mood, reduce blood pressure, regulate blood sugar levels, & even lower cholesterol.
Lower-calorie
Guayusa has a deliciously smooth flavour that never gets bitter, even when steeped for a long time. This means there’s no need to add sugar or milk to your daily cup, making it a great option if you’re looking to reduce your calorie intake. It’s also a great way to avoid the dreaded coffee breath!
Tannin-free
Unlike other caffeine sources, guayusa is virtually tannin-free. This brings many benefits:
- It won’t yellow teeth the way coffee or black tea can
- It is easy on the stomach (tannins can cause a feeling of nausea, especially when drank on an empty stomach)
- It won’t prevent the absorption of non-heme iron, the only type of iron found in vegetables (and therefore very important for vegans and vegetarians)
Check out our Benefits page to dig deeper into the emerging research on guayusa’s health benefits!
Sustainably-sourced
With your support, we believe that the burgeoning guayusa industry can set new standards in social & environmental sustainability. Without the colonial hangovers of industries like traditional tea and coffee, the guayusa industry offers a clean slate on which we can embed new norms about the treatment of farmers and the ecosystems they work in.
That’s why we source our organic-certified guayusa from over 100 smallholder farming families in the Ecuadorian Amazon, who are paid 15% above the Fairtrade price for their guayusa leaves. These farmers use indigenous farming systems, known as chacras, in which multiple crops are grown together in a way that imitates and supports the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Amazon region. This kind of farming demonstrates a much-needed alternative to the slash-and-burn agriculture that is driving deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change in the region today.
However, none of these indigenous farming methods will be possible if indigenous rights and land aren’t protected. That’s why we are also donating 1% of our revenues to Amazon Frontlines, a non-profit protecting indigenous rights to land, life and cultural survival in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Check out our Mission page to dig deeper into how your purchase will support these communities and the Amazon region!
