Guayusa (gwhy-you-sa) is an Amazonian super-leaf naturally packed with caffeine and polyphenols, so it provides a clean, focused energy. There are low tannins in guayusa, so it lacks the astringent, bitter taste sometimes associated with green and black teas. Instead, it tastes smooth and naturally sweet.
Ilex guayusa is an evergreen dioecioustree which grows 6–30 meters tall. The leaves are ovate, elliptic, oblong or lanceolate; 7–22 cm long, 2.5–7 cm wide. The flowers are small and white, arranged in thyrses. The fruit is spherical and red, 6–7 mm in diameter.
Seems like 98 percent of the guayusa in the world is in Ecuador. It is native to a thin stretch of the upper Amazon [that] hugs the Andes Mountains. While it’s a leaf brewed like tea, but it’s not actually related to green or black tea. When brewed, it has about as much caffeine as coffee. It is also incredibly rich in polyphenols, which are the most common compounds that comprise what we informally call antioxidants. Furthermore it also has a ton of chlorogenic acids, which is trending and hot right now for weight loss and benefits to the heart.