Guayusa tea is the strongest hype drink of all. Why this is so, what effect the plant Guayusa really has and whether all this is dangerous, we explain in the following article.
Guayusa simply explained
What is Guayusa?
Guayusa tea is made from the dried leaves of a species of holly (Ilex Guayusa) from Ecuador. The stimulant tea with a high caffeine content is actually a caffeinated infusion drink. Long unknown to us, the tea extracted from the tree is part of the culture of the Quichua natives of the Amazon region and has a correspondingly high value as a stimulant.
In taste, the coffee substitute is reminiscent of the related mate tea. The effect ranges from stimulating to relaxing (muscle relaxant) thanks to various natural ingredients, the feeling of hunger decreases. In reports of experiences, there is talk of numerous positive effects such as help with headaches or blood pressure lowering effects.
What is so special about Guayusa?
The effect of tea can basically be divided into three areas:
- Energy tea / coffee substitute: Guayusa is known as an excellent stimulant and is considered a natural stimulant.
With a caffeine content of up to 7.6%, the dried leaves have the highest known concentration of caffeine in a plant. In contrast to coffee, Guayusa has a comparatively favourable PH-value, and the tea is correspondingly digestible even in larger quantities. In addition, the caffeine contained in the tea is released more slowly than usual, a uniform effect ensures a lasting increase in performance. An ideal coffee alternative.
All info on caffeine in Guayusa
In the culture of the indigenous people of the Amazon, Guayusa tea is also considered the gateway to dreams. In contrast to the hallucinogenic ayahuasca, which is about an altered waking consciousness, Guayusa tea is all about so-called Lucid dreaming. The dreamer becomes aware that he is in a dream world, this is called a lucid dream. In its most pronounced form, the course of the dreams can be arranged freely. It is not for nothing that Guayusa tea is nicknamed “Night Watchman”. All information about Clear dream and Guayusa
Tea is considered a love tea or natural aphrodisiac because of its stimulating and vitalizing effect. The even and gentle performance enhancement of the combination of caffeine and theanine leads to an increased sensuality, the stress usually caused by conventional caffeine drinks is eliminated.
How healthy is Guayusa?
Guayusa, consumed in the form of tea, is considered very digestible and, due to its high caffeine content, is an ideal alternative to coffee. The favourable PH-value makes it especially interesting for people with sensitive gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the energy tea has other beneficial ingredients such as theobromine, theanine or theobromine and acts as a free radical scavenger thanks to the antioxidants. Like other species of the genus Ilex (e.g. mate tea), Guayusa is also considered a diabetes prophilaxe and is antibacterial and anti-cancer.
All in all, Guayusa tea has a strong mood-lifting, stimulating and well-tolerated effect.
All information on Enhanced substances and effect
preparation
Traditionally, the leaves of the Guayusa tree are prepared in the same way as other ilex species such as mate. Depending on taste, a dosage of one to two teaspoons of Guayusa tea per cup of hot water is recommended. The infusion time is 5-7 minutes. Furthermore, the tea is nowadays offered in different variants as convenience products like energy teas or tea pads. Basically there are no limits to creativity. From Guayusa Ice Tea to Orange Chocolate Guayusa Tonic, this natural coffee substitute has many facets.
Can you smoke Guayusa?
Some shamans in Ecuador roll the leaves of the Guayusa plant into a kind of cigar and smoke it during certain spiritual ceremonies. However, reports of smoking guayusa or even snorting the powder should be taken with a grain of salt and is not
More information about preparation and recipes
Origin and history
The Ilex Guayusa belongs to the family of the palm trees and is mainly native to the Amazon rainforest in the distribution area of the Quichua Indians (Ecuador, Colombia). The tree, which looks more like a shrub, grows 5 to 30 metres high and forms leaves similar to those of the laurel bush. The use of the leaves as tea and the cultivation of the plants is deeply rooted in the history of the local Kichwa Indians. They are also the ones who keep the plant alive as much as possible. Depending on the source, the history of its use as a useful plant goes back to 500 A.D. Today, the cultivation offers a possibility of sustainable income for the indigenous people of the Amazon, especially in the context of “strong” fair trade.
More information about cultivation and origin and the mystery of reproduction
Video: National Geographic visits the Kichwa and highlights the cultivation of Guayusa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFHx8MYUmc4
Sources:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilex_guayusa
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6265843/
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/07/140703-guayusa-ecuador-amazon-health-foods-tea/
