ABOUT GUAYUSA
GUAYUSA IS A SUPER LEAF FROM THE AMAZON.
Ilex guayusaIlex guayusa is indigenous to the upper Amazonian regions of Ecuador, Peru and southern Colombia, where it grows in evergreen parts of the rainforest. Today, guayusa is only rarely collected in the wild. It is almost exclusively grown and know as a cultivated plant. As a species, it is part of the Holly genus and one of the four holly trees containing caffeine.
Close to 98 percent of the world’s guayusa grows in Ecuador. It is native to a thin stretch of the upper Amazon that hugs the Andes Mountains.
Guayusa has been part of Amazonian culture for over 2,000 years and is a botanical cousin to Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis ) which has gained amazing popularity throughout the world in recent years for its health benefits and energizing effect.
FOREST GARDENS
Guayusa cultivation is done in what’s basically a forest garden. The Kichwa tribe call this natural type of farmland a Chacra. In these environments no chemicals, fertilizers or any unnatural elements are used. A Chacra allows the nutrients to flow between species in a natural sustainable way, the same way as the rainforest maintains itself without any human intervention. This type of cultivation 's very low input, and essentially replicates the structure of the natural rainforest, meaning there is no negative ecological impact on the indigenous environment.
Tradition
The story goes that in ancient times, the Kichwa tribe prayed for a plant that would teach them how to dream. From their midst, two twin brothers were selected to go on a quest. They canoed down the river to find this plant, waking up in the middle of the night a spirit village had manifested on the other side of the river. There they saw all of their ancestors, generation after generation. The ancestors gifted them a plant and said, "This is a plant that can help your people and connect you to the dream world." When they woke up the next morning, they still had the physical plant with them. They took it back to their community and guayusa became a central part of their culture.
Traditionally the members of the Kichwa tribe start their days brewing fresh guayusa tea, gathering around a communal fire, playing music and sharing their dreams. The elders teach the young about life, hunting and tell them ancient myths. The plant gives them strength in difficult times, teaching them how to explain dreams and how to overcome fears. They say it invigorates, gives strength, focus and endurance all day long. It enhances their hunting senses, purifies the blood and gives energetic protection. Elder tribe members, some over 90, give guayusa credit for retaining their youth and virility for so many years.
Native hunters have been known to subsist for days on guayusa alone, while pursuing their prey. They chew the leaves and drink it as hot tea to boost night vision and overall mental activity. Life in the Amazon can be tough and intense and the native people say it would be impossible to survive without guayusa. Now we can stay energized and healthy while at the same time we support the Amazon and its inhabitants to preserve their culture and environment.
A GREAT SOURCE OF CLEAN, FOCUSED, SUSTAINED ENERGY.
A perfect combination of all the good things in one.
We are proud to say our product is GMO free and grown, processed and shipped without use of pesticides and agro chemicals.
Our supreme quality leaves are hand selected and carefully washed, dried, processed and packed by indigenous farmers under the canopy of the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador.
The energy of coffee without the jitters, restlessness or energy crashes. The pleasant and happy feeling of dark chocolate. Double the antioxidants compared to green tea A very clear and uplifting sensation.
ACTIVE COMPONENTS
What makes guayusa special? With its high levels of xanthines - the molecular family that includes caffeine (coffee, tea), theobromine (cocoa, tea) and theophylline (cocoa, tea) - guayusa releases energy slowly and evenly over time. This avoids the jitters, restlessness and energy crashes other xanthine sources can cause. Guayusa’s unique xanthine blend gives a focused, positive flow throughout the day. As well as the xanthine effect, guayusa is also packed with antioxidants, with an ORAC value almost twice that of that in green tea. The antioxidants include phenolic compounds and flavonoïds, which prevent cell damage; guanidine, which lowers blood sugar levels; L-Theanine, shown to de-stress the central nervous system; and oleanolic and ursolic acid, which are recognized as anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-carcinogenic agents.
With a history spanning thousands of years, xanthine-containing plants are an essential part of daily life around the world. In western society, as much as 90% of the population use a plant like this - for example, coffee, tea, cacao, guarana, kola or maté - every day. Guayusa is a very special addition to this list. It’s an excellent friend to include in our daily routine, and a healthy alternative to coffee or energy drinks. Give it a try and let guayusa convince Yu.
Because Yu Care
Since 2005, the Ishpingo foundation has set up a sustainable development model whereby farmers mainly reforest their land. Local populations are capable to yourself consume fruit, wood and herbal medicine. Their living conditions are noticeably improving because farmers can now sell their production to a fair trade cooperatives. Ishpingo believes that positive and long-term results in reforestation projects can only be achieved if the local population is educated and really involved. Their commitment and their awareness of the impact of climate change are key to ensuring the sustainability and reproducibility of the actions Ishpingo takes.
