Guayusa Profile
Guayusa
Ilex guayusa
For morning intention, focused energy and dream awareness.
Herbal Intelligence
Understanding Guayusa
Guayusa (Ilex guayusa) is an evergreen holly tree native to the upper Amazon of Ecuador. Its leaves are naturally rich in caffeine, and the peoples of the Ecuadorian Amazon have brewed them as an early-morning drink for centuries. The name is said gwhy-you-sa.
The taste is smooth and earthy, with a natural sweetness and little of the bitterness of black tea. Most people take Guayusa as a tea or a liquid extract, and it is the herb our customers reach for first thing in the morning, when they want clear, focused energy for the day ahead.
Cultural use
Guayusa grows mainly in the Amazon region of Ecuador, with some in neighbouring Colombia and Peru(1). The earliest evidence of its use dates to around 500 CE: bags of carefully prepared leaves were found in a tomb in Bolivia, thought to be a healer's and well outside the tree's home range(1).
Mission records describe the plant in the eighteenth century, when Jesuits in Ecuador sold the leaves in Quito(1). In 1857 the British explorer Richard Spruce recorded Guayusa plantations near Baños(1). It is a close relative of Yerba Mate(1).
In Amazonian Ecuador and Peru a strong brew of the leaves is drunk as a morning stimulant(2). Among the Kichwa, who hold the plant sacred, families gather early in the morning to drink it together, and over the cups they tell stories, interpret dreams, weave and pray(1). The dried leaves are still sold threaded on string, like a necklace(1).
Phytochemistry
Guayusa is the dried leaf of Ilex guayusa, an Amazonian holly. The leaves contain methylxanthines such as caffeine and theobromine, chlorogenic acids, rutin and other flavonoids, along with small amounts of essential oils and amino acids such as L-theanine(3). In the laboratory these compounds are studied for their stimulant properties and antioxidant activity(3).
Modern herbal use
In Western herbalism Guayusa is classed as a stimulant: a caffeinated leaf that sits alongside tea, coffee and Yerba Mate. It is taken for alertness and steady attention, and it blends well with Tulsi, Lemon Balm or Brahmi.
People drink it at the start of the day, before study or a long shift, and ahead of a drive or a night of dancing. For some it is part of habit shifting, a cup of leaf tea in place of the second coffee. Others keep it for dream work, following the Kichwa link between Guayusa and dreaming. That link rests on custom, not on research.
Guayusa is new to the wider world and has been little studied in people. A 2020 review found that its known composition appears to present no greater risk than green tea or Yerba Mate, and that understanding of its chemistry is still at an early stage(5). So we describe how it is used, not what it will do.
Developed and reviewed by Laura Grace, Owner and Creative Director of Happy Herb Co, Herb Educator and Registered Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant ·
This profile is intended as a researched educational guide and does not replace the broader perspective of a herbal consultation.
Sources
- Noriega, P., Moreno, E., Falcón, A., Quishpe, V., & Noriega, P. del C. (2025). Guayusa (Ilex guayusa Loes.) ancestral plant of Ecuador: History, traditional uses, chemistry, biological activity, and potential industrial uses. Molecules, 30(13), 2837. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30132837
- Lewis, W. H., Kennelly, E. J., Bass, G. N., Wedner, H. J., Elvin-Lewis, M. P., & Fast, D. (1991). Ritualistic use of the holly Ilex guayusa by Amazonian Jívaro Indians. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 33(1-2), 25-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(91)90156-8
- Reyes‐García, V., & Vargas, E. (2010). Guayusa (Ilex guayusa): The cultural life of an Amazonian stimulant. Journal of Ethnobiology, 30(1), 151–173. https://doi.org/10.2993/0278-0771-30.1.151
- Meneses, M. Á., Guzmán, J., Cabrera, J., Magallanes, J., Valarezo, E., & Guamán-Balcázar, M. d. C. (2024). Green Processing of Ilex guayusa: Antioxidant Concentration and Caffeine Reduction Using Encapsulation by Supercritical Antisolvent Process. Molecules, 29(22), 5309. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29225309
- Wise, G., & Negrin, A. (2020). A critical review of the composition and history of safe use of guayusa: A stimulant and antioxidant novel food. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 60(14), 2393-2404. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2019.1643286
Guayusa, in your words
★★★★★
4.9 out of 5, from 13 reviews
B
Brodie W. A delicious herb that is perfect for a morning brew. It's definitely smoother to drink then Mate, which it also pairs up with well.
J
Justin A. This tea is totally amazing!! Great alternative to coffee when needing that caffeine boost . I also feel more focused after I drink this during those grave shifts, it also has this calming affect . It also has a milder taste to black tea . Amazing herbal tea
B
Bonnie C. As a tea, this is mild and refreshing; tastes a bit like a milder version of regular black tea. I like to experiment with different mixes of herbs, as many work in synergy to one another. I have mixed this with Blue Lotus, and found that to be an interesting tea....both calming and focus improving. I've also made a tea with Guayusa and Sinicuichi ( aka Sun Opener), and have found this to be an uplifting tea for morning use.
I have also tried smoking this with you-know-what ( as spin/ replacement for tobacco) along with Blue Lotus and Wild Lettuce, which is really nice. Puts me in a pleasant, chilled-out mood. ( Note: I'm not any kind of habitual cannabis smoker, so I really notice the effects when i do. Mixing that with these aforementioned herbs AND smoking it as a ritual with a clear intention rather than just wanting to 'get stoned' brings me peace of mind, good sleep, and enhanced creativity).
As for assisting with dreaming, it's difficult for me to gauge, as I generally have pretty wild and wonderful dreams as it is ( when I actually sleep, that is. Long time insomnia sufferer here). I tend to be of the opinion that herbs such as these have a subtle spiritual effect rather than a full-on physical effect. I feel that if you approach the ingestion of these herbs with respect- and a sense of ceremony- you'll get more out of them. Approach herbs as friends that you want to commune with rather than THINGS that can get you some kind of quick fix from and you can't go wrong.
J
Jeffrey L. A lot more mellow than your typical caffeinated beverage, but sometimes that's what you need. Has a beautiful taste that's very smooth and fresh 🙂
Hi Jeffrey, Thank you so much for your review and support!! We really appreciate you taking the time to share and are so happy that you are having a positive experience with the Guayusa. Cheers!
B
Brian B. Tis nice like a bubblegum flavoured black tea!
Hi Brian, Thank you for your review! So glad to hear you are enjoying Guayusa...mm love your yummy description of it! Your feedback helps other customers connect to the best products so we really appreciate you taking the time to share. Cheers!
In health & happiness, Happy Herb Co
In everyday life
Connect with Guayusa
How it's used
Guayusa leaf is used in two main ways.
- Tea. Pour a cup of just-boiled water over 2 grams of loose leaf, about a heaped teaspoon, and steep for 4 to 7 minutes, or longer for a darker brew. It is smooth enough to drink without milk or honey, and it can be chilled and served over ice.
- Liquid extract. A tincture taken in a little water, for mornings when there is no time to brew. Follow the directions on the label.
Guayusa is a morning and daytime herb. Because it contains caffeine, most people stop by mid-afternoon.
A Moment with Guayusa
The pre-dawn cup.
Hold the dried leaf, a holly from the Ecuadorian Amazon. The Kichwa people rise before dawn, brew it in a big pot and share it while telling their dreams and planning the day.
Steep a heaped teaspoon for five minutes, smooth enough to drink plain. Make it first, before the phone, and tell someone your dream if you had one.
Sip slowly. The day was once begun together, in the dark, with a story. How do you want to begin yours?
In the Botanical Guides
Where Guayusa appears
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Guayusa, ready to use
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Guayusa Lucid Dreaming Herbal Tea
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Guarana powder, guayusa tea, capsules, an elixir, an inhaler and two pops.
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Four teas for morning through to night, with a stainless steel strainer.
FAQ
Guayusa: frequently asked questions
What is Guayusa?
Guayusa (Ilex guayusa) is an evergreen holly tree native to the upper Amazon of Ecuador. Its caffeinated leaves have been brewed as an early-morning drink by the peoples of the Ecuadorian Amazon for centuries, and it is a close relative of Yerba Mate. Today Guayusa is taken as a tea or as a liquid extract.
What does Guayusa do?
Guayusa is long associated with energy, focus and dreaming. In the Ecuadorian Amazon the Kichwa drink it together early in the morning, a time for telling stories and interpreting dreams, and Western herbalists class it as a stimulant because of its caffeine. Guayusa has been little studied in people, so we describe how it is used, not what it will do.
When should I use Guayusa for energy?
Guayusa is best known as a herb people reach for when they want clear, steady energy at the start of the day. Most people have a cup first thing in the morning, or before study, work or a long drive. Because Guayusa contains caffeine, it is best kept to the morning and early afternoon.
How do you make Guayusa tea?
Pour a cup of just-boiled water over 2 grams of loose Guayusa leaf, about a heaped teaspoon, and steep for 4 to 7 minutes, then strain. Steep it longer for a darker, stronger brew. Guayusa is smooth and naturally a little sweet, and it can also be chilled and served over ice.
Does Guayusa contain caffeine?
Yes. Guayusa is a naturally caffeinated leaf and a close relative of Yerba Mate. A 2025 scientific review reports up to about 75 milligrams of caffeine per gram of dried leaf in the richest samples, on a par with Guarana seed. How much reaches the cup depends on how much leaf you use and how long it steeps. Treat it as you would coffee.
Is Guayusa hallucinogenic?
No. Guayusa is not known to be hallucinogenic. It is a caffeinated holly leaf, and a 2025 scientific review lists its alkaloids as caffeine, theobromine and a trace of theophylline, the same compounds found in tea, coffee and cacao. Its link with dreaming comes from Kichwa custom, where the morning Guayusa gathering is a time for interpreting dreams.
Who should not take Guayusa?
Use Guayusa with caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding, if you have cardiovascular disease, or if you are sensitive to caffeine. A 2025 scientific review notes that too much caffeine can bring headaches, nervousness and tremors, and that no safety studies have been done in pregnant women or young children. If you take medication or have a health condition, check with your health professional first.
Precautions
Caution in pregnancy and lactation. Use with caution in people with cardiovascular disease and in people sensitive to caffeine.
Cited Herbal Actions
This herb has not been studied enough for its actions to be defined. What we know of it comes from tradition and the sources below.
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