Guayusa tea has become increasingly popular in Germany in recent years . Many people drink it because of its unique effects. But what exactly are the effects of Guayusa tea? Does it also taste good? And how does its effects compare to coffee?
The effects of Guayusa tea
Guayusa is the leaf with the highest caffeine content in the world and has a unique effect. This is primarily due to the exact nature of the caffeine present in the leaves.
Caffeine = Caffeine?
Even though caffeine remains caffeine from a purely chemical perspective, its effects on the body can vary greatly. Depending on what it's mixed with or the extent to which it's bound to other chemical components, caffeine can be absorbed fundamentally differently by the body.
A special bond
The caffeine in Guayusa tea is bound to a specific type of amino acid, which slows the caffeine's absorption into the bloodstream. Because our body needs time to break down this bond, the caffeine becomes available and usable in the intestines rather than the stomach. This means the caffeine rush sets in more slowly, lasts longer, and is perceived more subtly. This minimizes the effects on the cardiovascular system, so guayusa can effectively prevent heart palpitations caused by too much caffeine.
Enjoy with caution!
However, Guayusa tea is still not suitable for people suffering from heart disease or high blood pressure. This warning is due to the fact, mentioned above, that Guayusa is the leaf with the highest caffeine content in the world. Although the leaf's mild effects may conceal this, a well-brewed cup of Guayusa (3g of Guayusa to 250ml of water) can contain up to 80mg of caffeine after 6-8 minutes of steeping, which is equivalent to a can of Red Bull.
The taste of Guayusa
Guayusa tea tastes very mild overall. It's often compared to mate, but we don't think this is entirely accurate. Guayusa is nowhere near as "edgy" as its related mate. If you don't like mate tea, that doesn't necessarily mean anything about Guayusa. The two teas taste very different.
Sweet herbal tea
Guayusa is best described as slightly sweet and herbal, while mate tea tastes more bitter and often has a slightly smoky note (depending on the mate). With our "Original" Guayusa, you can look forward to a particularly mild tea experience, as it is made using the "Green Process," a process that gently and carefully removes moisture from the leaves. This not only makes the tea particularly mild, it also retains its original aroma. Learn more
Guayusa never (yes, NEVER!) becomes bitter.
Guayusa tea has the great advantage of never becoming bitter, no matter how long it is steeped. This is due to the absence of tannins, the substance that makes black tea almost undrinkable if steeped for too long.
Your basis for new things
In terms of taste, Guayusa can almost be described as unremarkable. For us, this is very good news for two reasons:
1) Guauysa and its taste is a drink for every day
2) It is the ideal starting point for your own tea creations, here is an idea for a Gauyusa iced tea.
Guayusa compared to coffee
Guayusa and coffee are both very popular beverages that people enjoy. But what's the difference between the two?
Acid-free tea enjoyment
The biggest and most obvious difference between Guayusa and coffee is the fact that Guayusa tea contains no caffeic acid. This caffeic acid is a problem for many people because it can cause stomach pain or digestive issues. Especially if you drink coffee every day, this can lead to health problems. Guayusa not only stands out with its absence of any acid, it also contains antioxidants and amino acids that aren't found in coffee.
Caffeine, but different
Another difference between the two drinks is the effect. The effect of coffee is stronger and more noticeable than that of guayusa, especially at the beginning. Coffee takes effect very quickly (due to the unbound caffeine), whereas guayusa caffeine enters the bloodstream more slowly and its effect is less prominent. However, it lasts longer and is more consistent; there's no guayusa crash like you'd experience with coffee.
So if you're looking for a caffeinated drink and don't want the jitters of coffee, Guayusa is definitely the place to be.
Bonus - No yellow teeth!
A nice bonus of drinking guayusa is that it doesn't yellow your teeth. Coffee and black tea yellow teeth because they contain tannins and bitter compounds. Guayusa doesn't contain any of these substances and therefore doesn't stain teeth at all.
Conclusion: A good coffee alternative
We believe guayusa is a very good alternative to coffee. It has many of the same beneficial effects, but tastes much milder and doesn't cause stomach pain or digestive issues. It also won't yellow your teeth.
In any case, you should try Guayusa; the effect is always individual and best tested by each individual. When testing it for the first time, however, you should definitely keep in mind that the caffeine from Guayusa doesn't hit your bloodstream like a large "wave," as described above, so the effect will initially feel less intense. However, it's best not to try to boost it with more Guayusa. Although an overdose is much harder to achieve than with coffee due to its specific mode of action, you should still wait and listen to your body.
