Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Guayusa
Where to Buy: Stash Tea
Tisane Description:
GUAYUSA (gwhy-you-sa) is a rare herbal tea produced from the leaves of a holly tree (ilex guayusa) native to the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador. Guayusa is naturally caffeinated and has an awakening effect similar to coffee and yerba mate. For this signature blend, we’ve combined Guayusa with lemony herbs and pure lemon oil for a slightly tart, refreshing taste.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
Having trouble staying awake when you need to? Need some caffeine, but you don’t want the ordinary cup of coffee, you want something bright and flavorful … something that will put a spring in your step?
This is the beverage for you!
Guayusa is very caffeinated – I find it to be on the same level caffeine wise as coffee but, while coffee tends to upset my stomach a few hours after I’ve consumed it, I don’t have those same ill aftereffects with Guayusa.
What I’m enjoying about this particular blend is that the vibrant, coffee-esque taste – rich and flavorful – of the Guayusa marries so well with the sunny notes of the lemon. It is sweet yet tart, but not so tart that I feel myself wanting to pucker after a sip. The tartness sparkles lightly on the tongue in the aftertaste.
I’ve tried a few Guayusa blends by now, and I really like what I’ve tasted. I can’t say that the lemon blends are my favorite (I think that I prefer chocolate! I know, duh! right?) but I do enjoy the lemon-y Guayusa blends quite a bit. Very nice, and I could see how this would be a perfect choice for those mornings when you just can’t seem to shake that groggy, sleepy feeling. This has a refreshing, energizing taste to go with the natural invigorating qualities of the Guayusa.
Good Morning Sunshine from Butiki Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Guayusa
Where to Buy: Butiki Teas
Tisane Description:
Feel like a zombie in the morning? Then we highly recommend our refreshing Good Morning Sunshine guayusa. The lemon aroma and high caffeine content awaken the spirit. This guayusa has a zesty lemon flavor that is sweet, tart, and creamy.
Learn more about this Guayusa blend here.
Taster’s Review:
OK, I am LOVING this!
I generally do feel a bit zombie-ish in the morning. Morning is absolutely my least favorite part of the day. I’ll never be accused of being a morning person. In fact, I’ve pretty much structured my day so that I can sleep through morning! I’m much more productive late at night, so I stay up late enough so that I can wake up around 11 or so (sometimes later), and not feel guilty about sleeping the morning away … and still be rid of that bothersome morning thing. I still have to get up – briefly – in the morning, just to make sure that my soon-to-be-teen daughter gets up and gets on her way to school. But as soon as she’s out the door, I’m headed back to bed!
But there are sometimes when I have to get up early and stay up. Some things won’t wait until later, and on those days, if I don’t want to look like a dead girl walking, I need something energizing to wake me up. I can’t drink coffee, and really, with as wonderful as tea is, I don’t want to drink coffee! But sometimes, I need the caffeine of coffee. Fortunately, I’ve discovered Guayusa! It offers that same caffeine burst of energy that coffee does, but without the sick feeling I get after I drink coffee. Guayusa even tastes a little bit like coffee – only its smoother and not bitter like coffee can be. This really is the best of both worlds.
I love the combination of flavors that Butiki chose for this Good Morning Sunshine Guayusa blend. It is pleasantly citrus-y, providing the sunny flavor of lemon without the acidic flavor of it. It’s a little bit tart, but not overly so. There is a creamy element to the blend too, which curbs much of the tartness, making for a sweet, brightly flavored cup of morning goodness, with just enough tartness to keep it lively.
On the days that I have to wake up early (or early for me, anyway), this is the kind of tisane I want waiting for me. It energizes me and helps me to shake that sleepy feeling. After a cup of this, I feel like I can face whatever the day brings!
Amazon Spice Guayusa from Runa available at Mark T. Wendell
Tea Type: Guayusa
Brand Name: Runa
Where to buy: Mark T. Wendell
Product Description:
We are pleased to introduce our customers to the Ecuadorian herb, Guayusa (why-YOU-sah). For thousands of years communities throughout the Amazon have cultivated the guayusa leaf for a natural, delicious source of energy and nutrition. A truly balanced stimulant, guayusa contains caffeine, antioxidants, vitamins, and amino acids to awaken the mind and fortify the body.
Guayusa contains 50% more antioxidants than green tea. With a combined effect of sustained energy, what the indigenous Kichwa people call “mental strength and courage”, guayusa continues to be the center of morning rituals throughout the Amazon. Guayusa’s unique blend of caffeine, theobromine, and theophyline is what facilitates a whole-body feeling of awareness and presence. Every harvest, local farmers hand-pick guayusa leaves from the rich soil under the canopy of the Amazon rainforest. Available from Runa in pyramid teabags, each great tasting flavor is 100% organic, naturally smooth and balanced. With Runa’s focus on fair trade pricing and Amazon reforestation projects, you can feel good about rejuvenating with these unique herbal tea selections.
Cupping guayusa is a discovery of rich flavor and cultural tradition. Pour boiling water over the pyramid tea bag and steep for 4-7 minutes, or longer for a darker brew. Sip slowly and enjoy as you awaken your mind and fortify your body with Runa.
Tasters Review:
Here at SororiTEA Sisters not only do we like to be trendsetters (doesn’t ANY Sorority?) we also like to follow trends! Guayusa has been getting more and more press lately and eventho we cannot claim we are trendsetters on this tisane we gladly admit we are following the trend and think it’s going to be around for quite some time due to it’s health benefits!
This signature blend combines rich, invigorating Guayusa with full-bodied cinnamon and a sweet aromatic lemongrass, in a traditional Amazonian blend.
Here are my findings on this product available at Mark T. Wendell…
This smells a little herbally but it seems to have a SMIDGE of berry aroma hiding somewhere, too. The spices are very subtle and very light. Once infused I can smell the lemongrass and the spice is just underneath the lemon-aroma. The taste is pretty different tho – there is a cinnamon powder type taste paired with the lemongrass on the tongue and that’s on top of the green bean or fresh pea type taste I have been associating with Guayusa. Not bad. Very different from what I expected…but not bad at all!
