Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Guayusa
Where to Buy: Butiki Teas
Tea Description:
Spice things up with our Winter Fire guayusa. We started out with a generous amount of cinnamon then ground up some whole chilies and added a touch of cayenne to our guayusa base. The result is a cinnamon flavor that packs some heat with a smooth molasses undertone. This guayusa works well without sugar; however, add a little sugar for a flavor that resembles red hot candy.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Wow! This Winter Fire Guayusa Blend from Butiki Teas has got some SERIOUS kick to it! I doubt anyone could accuse this tisane of wimping out – it brings the heat, and then turns it up … way up! If this winter weather has left you feeling cold, just brew yourself a cup of this tisane and it will warm you right up!
But, as the description suggests, there is a smooth molasses undertone to it too. Once your palate gets past that striking heat, there are some really delightful flavors to explore.
The fiery heat from the cayenne, chilies and cinnamon sort of mask the coffee-ish flavors of the guayusa at first, but as I continue to sip on this, I start to notice those coffee notes. There is a sweet, molasses-like flavor to the cup as well.
The prominent flavors are – quite obviously – the spices of this tisane. It’s a little jarring at first, just how spicy this is, but, once your mouth begins to get used to the heat, you’ll find you’re able to explore the other notes and you’ll find that there’s more to this than just the spice.
Those who can’t handle spicy-hot … this is not a tisane for you. This is for those who like it hot!
The Killer’s Vanilla from Butiki Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Guayusa
Where to Buy: Butiki Teas
Tisane Description:
Don’t let the name fool you, this guayusa is subtle and calming but it is deceptive in its high caffeine content which creates a relaxed yet alert feeling. Lavender, mint, and vanilla are well balanced and come together for a light and earthy treat. Add a little sugar and the flavors come to life. The creamy vanilla, gentle mint, and relaxing lavender mingle and fight for attention but ultimately the vanilla is the strongest. This guayusa was inspired by a song that we adore, The Killer’s Vanilla by Amon Tobin, one of our favorite artists to listen to while blending tea. For more information on the naming of this guayusa check out our blog .
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
To the eye, this doesn’t really look all that special. It looks like most other Guayusa tisanes that I’ve seen.
To the nose, it smells like creamy vanilla with a earthy overtone and a distant note of mint … and an even more subtle hint of flower. So subtle, in fact, that it is difficult to discern that what I’m smelling is lavender (one of my favorite florals, especially when it comes to tea!) This tisane actually smells a little weird … but in a very intriguing kind of way.
To the tongue, this tastes really good! It is interesting and different with every sip. In one sip, I’ll notice a strong vanilla note, and in the next, I’ll notice the rich earthiness of the guayusa and notes of mint. Then in the next sip, I’ll notice the lavender as the prominent taste. I love that it seems to change with every sip … offering me different flavors to explore.
The guayusa has less of a vegetative taste than the aroma would lead me to believe, it tastes more earthy … imagine pouring half a cup of coffee and topping off the cup with yerba mate, and then you added the essences of vanilla, mint and lavender … this sort of tastes the way I’d imagine that cup would taste. There’s lots of flavor to enjoy here!
I love this tisane … and while this cup has been a complete surprise from start to finish, one thing that doesn’t surprise me is that I do love this. Butiki Teas never fails to impress me, and it seems like I fall in love all over again with each new cup I try from this company.
Guayusa Tea with Lemon from Stash Tea
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.
Guayusa with Lemon from Stash Tea Company
Tea Type:
Guayusa
Where To Buy:
Stash Tea Company
Product 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.
Tasters Review:
This is really good! Surprisingly GOOD!! The Lemon is PERFECT in this! At least for my palate, it is! This is a highly flavored Guayusa and I like it! If you like Lemon this is darn tasty! I have found that Lemon Flavored and Mint Flavored Guayusa’s seem to really fit my fancy! This one was no exception! It’s certainly one of the better flavored bagged Guayusa’s I have tried. YUM!
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!