Holistic Health Herbal Medicine The Health Benefits of Guayusa Tea An herbal infusion said to offer an energy boost By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Meredith Bull, ND on May 26, 2020 facebook linkedin Meredith Bull, ND, is a licensed naturopathic doctor with a private practice in Los Angeles, California. Learn about our Medical Review Board Meredith Bull, ND Updated on January 05, 2021 Print Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak Table of Contents View All Health Benefits Possible Side Effects Selection, Preparation, and Storage Common Questions Guayusa tea is a caffeinated herbal beverage commonly consumed in South America, particularly in Ecuador. The infusion is made from the leaf of a holly tree (Ilex guayusa) that is native to the Amazon rainforest. Often marketed as an alternative to coffee and energy drinks, guayusa is said to provide a healthier energy lift. In fact, in Ecuador, locals have long sipped guayusa in order to increase their alertness, especially while working. Certain native tribes refer to guayusa as “the night watchman,” since the drink is sometimes used to help people stay awake through evening hours. Some believe that guayusa also provides other benefits. It is touted as a top source of antioxidants, vitamins, and amino acids. In addition, it contains such chemicals as theobromine, a substance also found in cocoa and thought to offer mood-enhancing effects. Health Benefits In addition to helping boost energy, some proponents suggest that sipping guayusa on a regular basis can reduce your risk for diabetes and heart disease. It’s also suggested that drinking guayusa can help promote weight loss. At this point, however, little is known about how drinking guayusa might influence health. Studies investigating the health properties of guayusa are extremely limited, and almost no studies have been performed on humans. So far, most of the claims for the drink’s health effects come from anecdotal evidence. Alertness The caffeine content in guayusa and in coffee can vary greatly according to the way it is manufactured and brewed. However, the caffeine in one cup of brewed guayusa is said to be comparable to the caffeine in a cup of coffee. When compared to other types of caffeinated beverages, however, guayusa is believed to provide mental alertness without negative side effects including jitters or a post-caffeine "crash." One small study published in Clinical and Translational Science was performed on 12 adult males. Researchers compared subjects' responses to caffeine from a green coffee extract, a guayusa leaf extract, and a synthetic caffeine. They determined that the guayusa leaf extract may be less stimulating to the release of epinephrine (adrenaline) compared with the green coffee extract and synthetic caffeine. Antioxidant Antioxidants are compounds that help prevent cell damage from oxidation in the body. Several studies have confirmed the antioxidant properties of the guayusa plant. Researchers speculate that these compounds may provide some level of protection against cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, bacterial infection, and other illnesses, but more rigorous studies are needed to confirm these theories. Natural Remedies for Fighting Oxidative Stress Possible Side Effects Researchers who have investigated the chemical properties of guayusa have reported that it appears to present no greater risk to human health than existing teas such as green tea or yerba mate. However, they add that further investigation is needed. Despite claims that guayusa triggers none of the side effects commonly associated with caffeine intake, any type of high-caffeine product can have a negative impact on your wellbeing when consumed in excess. For example, consuming too much caffeine can aggravate conditions like anxiety and insomnia, as well as cause headaches and abnormal heart rhythms. Pregnant and nursing women should limit their use of caffeine. Certain drugs and supplements may interact with caffeine-rich substances, such as guayusa. Selection, Preparation, and Storage While many tea companies and online retailers sell guayusa tea, it is more appropriate to call it an herbal infusion. Technically, teas come from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), a guayusa beverages do not. You are likely to find guayusa in loose-leaf form, rather than in tea bags. The dried leaves should be stored in an airtight container until used. To brew, experts suggest that you bring fresh, cold water to a boil. Then pour eight ounces of water over about two grams of leaves and steep for up to seven minutes depending on how dark you like your brew. Guayusa can also be served iced. Common Questions How does guayusa differ from yerba mate?Yerba mate comes from the Ilex paraguariensis plant. It, like Ilex guayusa, is a holly tree native to the rainforests of South America (mainly, Argentina). Leaves from both plants are used to make teas that are often consumed as a coffee alternative. A key difference between guayusa and yerba mate is the flavor. Unlike yerba mate, which can bear a somewhat bitter taste, guayusa is regarded as smooth, earthy, and slightly sweet. Does the farming and production of guayusa affect the health of the rain forest?Since guayusa is typically grown on small family farms and cultivated according to environmentally friendly methods, it’s thought that increased demand for guayusa may support the sustainability of the rainforest as well as help farming communities thrive. What are some other coffee alternatives that provide an energy boost?A great variety of natural products can give you an energy lift similar to that of guayusa. Consider sipping classic teas such as black tea, green tea, white tea, and oolong tea. Unlike guayusa, such teas have been found to offer a number of health benefits, including improvements in heart health. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Gan RY, Zhang D, Wang M, Corke H. Health benefits of bioactive compounds from the genus Ilex, a source of traditional caffeinated beverages. Nutrients. 2018;10(11): 1682. doi:10.3390/nu10111682 Wise G, Negrin A. A critical review of the composition and history of safe use of guayusa: a stimulant and antioxidant novel food. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2019:1-12. doi:10.1080/10408398.2019.1643286 Pardau MD, Pereira AS, Apostolides Z, Serem JC, Bester MJ. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Ilex guayusa tea preparations: a comparison to Camellia sinensis teas. Food Funct. 2017;8(12):4601-4610. doi:10.1039/c7fo01067b Krieger DR, Kalman DS, Feldman S, et al. The safety, pharmacokinetics, and nervous system effects of two natural sources of caffeine in healthy adult males. Clin Transl Sci. 2016;9(5):246–251. doi:10.1111/cts.12403 Pardau MD, Pereira ASP, Apostolides Z, Serem JC, Bester MJ. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Ilex guayusa tea preparations: a comparison to Camellia sinensis teas. Food Funct. 2017;8(12):4601-4610. doi:10.1039/c7fo01067b Temple JL, Bernard C, Lipshultz SE, Czachor JD, Westphal JA, Mestre MA. The safety of ingested caffeine: a comprehensive review. Front Psychiatry. 2017;8:80. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00080 U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus. Caffeine in the diet. Updated April 30, 2019. Krause T, Ness B. Energizing agroforestry:Ilex guayusaas an additional commodity to diversify Amazonian agroforestry systems. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management. 2017;13(1):191-203. doi:10.1080/21513732.2017.1303646 Khan N, Mukhtar H. Tea and health: studies in humans. Curr Pharm Des. 2013;19(34):6141–6147. doi:10.2174/1381612811319340008 Additional Reading García-Ruiz A, Baenas N, Benítez-González A, et al. Guayusa (Ilex guayusa L.) new tea: phenolic and carotenoid composition and antioxidant capacity. J Sci Food Agric. 2017;97(12):3929-3936. doi:10.1002/jsfa.8255 Kapp RW, Mendes O, Roy S, Mcquate RS, Kraska R. General and Genetic Toxicology of Guayusa Concentrate (Ilex guayusa). Int J Toxicol. 2016;35(2):222-42. doi:10.1177%2F1091581815625594