Home / Herbal / Ecuador / Guayusa

Herbal (tisane) · Amazon holly

Guayusa

Ilex guayusa, waisa

7.4/10 editor's score

A caffeinated Amazon holly grown by the Kichwa in Ecuador's Napo and Pastaza. Smooth and mellow compared with mate.

CaffeinatedSmoothAmazon
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this herbCompare

Tisane, not from Camellia sinensis. Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dried guayusa leaves, top-down

What you need

2.5 g dried leavesGuayusa
250 ml water90 to 100°C
Steep 5:002 steeps
InfusionClear gold-green
Served inGourd

At a glance

A caffeinated Amazon holly grown by the Kichwa in Ecuador's Napo and Pastaza.

CaffeineMedium to high~40 to 80 mg
Beginner fit8.5 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestYear-roundPicked through the year.
Pairs withBreakfast, Fruit, CacaoLess good with very sweet desserts
Grown asAbout 200 to 2,000 mNapo, Ecuadorian Amazon
Served inGourdBoiled in a pot, served in gourds

About Guayusa

What sources say about the taste

Sources say guayusa leaves are harvested and brewed like a tea for their stimulating effect 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it is grown

NapoEcuadorian AmazonECUADOR
Plant
Ilex guayusa, a caffeinated holly 1
Grown in
Napo and Pastaza, Ecuador 1
Elevation
200 to 2,000 m 1
Contains
Caffeine, theobromine, L-theanine 1

More from Napo and Ecuador.

History and culture

The Kichwa grow guayusa in forest gardens called chakras and drink it every day 1.

They usually boil it in a pot and serve it in gourds 1.

Editor's score

7.4/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the plant, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 6.5Origin & heritage: 7.5Availability: 7.0Value: 8.5Beginner-friendliness: 8.5Versatility: 7.5Flavour 6.5Heritage 7.5Availability 7.0Value 8.5Beginners 8.5Versatility 7.5
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Guayusa~40 to 80 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg

Leaves contain caffeine, about 1.5% 1. The per-cup amount is our estimate. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

A tropical, year-round crop. Tap a month or a season.

The plant

Ilex guayusa, one of four known caffeinated hollies 1.

How it is made
01Picking

Leaves picked by hand.

02Drying

Dried.

03Cutting

Chopped.

Dry herb and infusion
Dry leavesChopped olive-green leaf.
LiquorClear gold-green.
After steeping
Wet leafSoft green leaf.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Breakfast
  • Fruit
  • Cacao

Best avoided

  • Very sweet desserts

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque container, away from light, heat and moisture.
  • Dried flowers and leaves lose aroma within about a year.
  • Buy small amounts and keep away from spices and coffee, which taint the smell.
Quality and buying

Leaf cut size varies.

Buying tips

  1. Smoother than mate.
  2. Popular as a coffee alternative.
FAQ
Is guayusa like mate?

Both are caffeinated hollies 1. Guayusa is smoother.

Find it inHerbal infusionsTeas from EcuadorNapoCaffeinatedSmoothAmazon

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Ilex guayusa". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilex_guayusa
  2. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.