Guayusa - £10 per 100g

Guayusa (pronounced “why-oo-sa”, or “why-sa” by the Kichwa people, and ”why-sa” by the Shuar people) is a tea made from a leaf Ilex guayusa which is in the same genus as the holly tree, and grows mainly in Ecuador. It is grown in forest gardens called chacras using no chemicals, pesticides or fertilisers. It has become popular in the West because it contains three stimulating compounds which provide sustained uplifting energy, clarity, focus and stamina without the jitters or crash that can be caused by coffee. It contains many other health benefits including twice the antioxidants of green tea, and lacks the bitter tannins of other teas.

Guayusa is more than just a beverage to the Shuar and Kichwa tribes, though. This sacred medicine is used in ceremony in the very early morning to connect them to the dream world and allow them to receive guidance from the Spirits. The guidance from the Spirits has an important role in the community and individual decision making. In local folklore it is said that the Spirits guided them to Guayusa when they prayed for a plant that would teach them how to dream. The plant is used decoratively and celebrated in many of their ceremonies. In the West, many turn to guayusa for it’s lucid-dream and vision-enhancing properties. It has also been called The Night Watchman and is used to help the night-guards stay awake through the night, and to stave off hunger. It is used by the Sapara tribe for hunting, and by the Shipibo tribe to treat the dear arising from trauma.

The caffeine levels in Guayusa are only surpassed by coffee as drinks go, though the metabolism is mitigated by high levels of L-theanine, which inhibits the stress on the adrenal glands and prevents the jitters and shakes. The relaxing effects of L-theanine are thought to play a part in why people can stay asleep when they become aware that they are dreaming in lucid dreaming practices. A second stimulant in Guayusa is theobromine (translated as ‘food of the gods’) which is also found in large amounts in cacao and balances the blood-pressure increasing effects of caffeine by lowering it, as well as opening the heart. The third stimulant in Guayusa is theophylline which is found in normal tea (although unrelated), and is associated with the relaxing and calming effect as well as being used to treat asthma and COPD.

Beyond the stimulating properties of Guayusa, there are several other ways it is used to assist health. It contains twice as many polyphenol antioxidants as green tea, helping to slow ageing. This is one of the highest in any foods or drinks. The catechin antioxidants, which are found in guayusa, are reported to fight cancer and increase metabolism. The antioxidants and amino acids may help fat and cholesterol move through the body.

It also contains high levels of chlorogenic acids which benefit heart health and weight loss by slowing the uptake of glucose from the intestines, improving efficiency of carbohydrate use and inhibiting appetite. In training it can help prevent the build up of lactic acid.

There are also claims that guayusa may also help prevent arteriosclerosis and blood clots that lead to heart attack or stroke