Get Your Buzz Without the Jitters

As borderline maté addicts, it seemed unlikely to have some other South American tea lay claim to our heart. And then along comes Organic Guayusa from DavidsTea. They call it “Jungle Fever” and it’s definitely raised a heated passion in us.

Like Yerba Maté, it is naturally caffeinated but the effects are unlike the jittery perk you get from coffee or cola. A cup of Guayusa leaves you feeling chill yet somehow energized, or as an old hippie might describe it; a mellow buzz, man.

Like many herbal teas, there are health benefits to steeping these wildcrafted leaves from a type of holly tree. Among the claims are a balancing of your blood sugar and pH levels and gentle support of your digestion, kidneys and urinary tract.

The tea has long been valued by the indigenous tribes of the Western Amazon (Ecuador, Peru and Colombia) and after a pot, you’ll know why. The flavour is smooth, slightly sweet with a hint of nutty. There's an earthiness to it but not in a ‘dirty’ way. Fair warning: it’s pretty hard to stop after just one cup.

We dig it most when steeped for an hour as it chills and then served straight-up over ice. The taste is so pleasant; it really doesn’t need sweetening but for those who like a treat -- try it with a bit of Manuka honey or with a splash of passion fruit juice over ice. So refreshing.  

They say that this brew was once drunk to inspire lucid dreams – we just think it’s straight up dreamy.