Guayusa Tea with Yerba Maté and Ginseng from Stash Tea

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Guayusa and Yerba Maté

Where to Buy:  Stash Tea

Tea 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, Guayusa is paired with yerba mate and ginseng for an invigorating brew that is sure to awaken your senses.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This blend really surprised me.  It doesn’t really taste at all like what I expected, which was a very earthy and vegetative/herbaceous kind of taste.  I didn’t really get that at all.  This tastes more like a very smooth, sweet coffee.

It has a warm, nutty kind of taste:  rich, slightly earthy and sweet.  I taste very little of the ginseng.  I also taste very little of the yerba maté … or at least, what I’ve come to recognize as yerba maté.  I taste Guayusa, but, it tastes sweeter than the Guayusa I’ve tasted in the past … perhaps a result of the combination of the other components. It’s really quite tasty!

It’s invigorating, too.  I woke up much too early this morning, and found myself unable to get back to sleep.  So I was very drowsy when I started this cup … but not any more!  I’m awake and ready to go!

I am really glad I got the opportunity to try this blend.  When I received this sample, I wasn’t all that excited about it … but the taste has won me over!  This is really good!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Guayusa, Yerba Maté

Guayusa Tea with Mint from Stash Tea

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Guayusa

Where to Buy:  Stash Tea

Tea 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, Guayusa is paired with peppermint and spearmint for a refreshing, rejuvenating blend.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I really like this blend.  The Guayusa is very invigorating (and I really needed it to help me wake up this morning!) and the mint flavor gives it a very refreshing, crisp taste.

I’ve reviewed a few Guayusa blends now, and I really like this herb.  It has a rich, earthy flavor that is neither too vegetal nor too earthy.  It reminds me a bit of a light roast coffee.  It also reminds me a little of yerba maté, although if given the choice, I’d choose Guayusa over yerba maté, because I like the smooth flavor of Guayusa better than the rather strong (and sometimes a little bitter) taste of yerba maté.  Don’t get me wrong, I like yerba maté too, but, I just prefer Guayusa.  Guayusa has never been bitter or astringent any time I’ve tasted it – it’s always just been smooth and energizing.

This blend combines the delicious flavor of Guayusa with mint … peppermint and spearmint, to be exact.  And the flavor is very minty.  It tastes cool and leaves my mouth feeling very clean and fresh.  But because of the Guayusa it doesn’t taste too minty.  It doesn’t taste like a mouth full of toothpaste, it just tastes refreshing!

While I am drinking this hot at the moment (I prefer my morning teas to be hot), I think it would be very delicious iced too.  However, it isn’t a tea that I’d recommend drinking too late in the evening (which I tend to do with iced teas), because it is a highly caffeinated beverage.

Instead, this is the kind of tea you’d want to drink early in the day when you need a super-charged boost of energy. This tea will do that for you, and without all the sugar of the typical energy drink in a can!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Guayusa

Lemolicious Ecuadorian Guayusa from 52Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Guayusa

Where to Buy:  52Teas

Product Description:

I was debating what sort of blend we should create with this new ingredient [Guayusa], and Sheri kept insisting it needed to be a lemon blend. I thought lemon was kind of plain, but it did sound good. The problem I saw was that as bold as the guayusa is, it would take some serious doing to convince it to take on any other flavors. But that’s just what we did: I pulled out all the stops to give this bold guayusa a nice gentle (but noticeable) lemon nudge. We added lemon myrtle, lemon balm, lemongrass, lemon verbena, lemon peel and some sun-dried lemon slices along with natural lemon flavors.

Taster’s Review:

I’ve had this blend for quite a while now (and unfortunately it has long since sold out and is no longer available from 52Teas), it managed to get itself hidden in my stash and as I was sorting through my collection of teas the other day I came across it and decided I must start drinking it!

And I’m glad I did rediscover this Guayusa blend because it really is tasty.  As Guayusa is a rather bold tasting tisane anyway, it is not surprising that it is the strongest flavor of this cup.  The citrus-y lemon notes are there, but they are subtle … until you get to the aftertaste and it is in the aftertaste when the lemon really seems to grab me.  It never becomes a pucker-y type of lemon taste – it isn’t sour – but it is tart and that is what I experience in the aftertaste.  A tickle-y, tingly lemon-y taste coming to life on my palate.

But throughout the sip, the lemon is subdued and sweet, adding just a little lemon-y twist to the unique flavor of the Guayusa, which is somewhat similar to Yerba Maté but without the bitterness of Maté.  It is slightly vegetative, and a little earthy.  It is incredibly smooth.  There is no astringency to it.

Guayusa is a stimulating drink and I find that it has the same effects on me as coffee … with one notable difference:  I don’t get sick a couple of hours later when I drink Guayusa.  I get the boost of alertness without the sick effects afterward.  That’s a win-win in my book!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in 52Teas, Guayusa, Tea Company, Type Of Tea

Ginger Citrus Guayusa from Runa

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Guayusa

Where to Buy:  Runa

Product Description:

A zesty guayusa blend that wakes you up with an invigorating twist of ginger and citrus.

Taster’s Review:

I love ginger flavored teas.  But even though I love the taste of ginger, I still usually brace myself for that distinctive peppery kick from the ginger.  With this tea, I was surprised at just how gentle the ginger is.

It still has a bit of peppery taste, but, it is much softer than I expected.  It is well-balanced with the bright citrus-y tones of the orange flavor.  With this tisane, the two flavors do not compete with one another, instead, they work together to provide a smooth delivery.  The orange tastes juicy and tangy-sweet, and the ginger is warm and zesty.

With this combination of flavors, the Guayusa tastes a little different.  I wouldn’t say it’s “off” in any way, because I’m really enjoying the flavor of the Guayusa.  Rather, I would say that the citrus and ginger seem to accent the Guayusa differently, highlighting different notes in the Guayusa.  It tastes a little more vegetative and a little less earthy.  It seems to have a lighter composure.  It is still bold and flavorful, but it doesn’t taste quite as rich here.  Still very enjoyable though.

This is a very energizing and delicious cup of tea!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Guayusa

Peppermint Guayusa from Runa

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Guayusa

Where to Buy:  Runa

Product Description:

The energizing power of guayusa with a crisp and rejuvenating organic peppermint.

Taster’s Review:

The more I drink Guayusa, the more I like it.  In many ways, it reminds me of Yerba Maté, as it has similar earthy/vegetative qualities.  But Guayusa is smoother than Yerba Maté.  Yerba Maté can sometimes be a little bitter, but I’ve never experienced any bitterness from Guayusa.

It also reminds me a bit of a good strong cup of black tea.  It has a bold, rich flavor and has the stimulating effects of coffee – but with one significant difference – I don’t experience the same ill after-effects with Guayusa that I do when I drink coffee.  So I have found myself turning to Guayusa more and more – especially when I need a good “wake up” on those mornings when I would rather be sleeping.

This Peppermint Guayusa is delightful.  The peppermint flavor is strong.  It is crisp, clean and vibrant.  Very minty, but I am not finding it to be too minty, thanks to the Guayusa.  It curbs the minty taste just enough.  The result is a smooth, delicious cup.  Slightly sweet and pleasantly minty.  Just what I needed this morning!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Guayusa