Guayusa

Deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Kichwa people have brewed guayusa for centuries, drinking it together before dawn as part of a daily ritual they call “the night’s knowledge.”

The leaves come from a tree in the holly family, making this a true tisane with no relation to Camellia sinensis. What it shares with tea is the caffeine: guayusa contains naturally elevated levels, more than most teas, without the bitterness that can come with it. We came across it through the young American importers bringing it north.

For those who already reach for our Yerba Maté, Guayusa offers a close cousin with a slightly smoother disposition and a story rooted a little deeper in the forest.

Click here to see all our herbs native to the Americas.