Field Guide No. 001 — Ilex guayusa
Every guayusa tea sold in the US, catalogued and compared.
Guayusa is an Amazonian holly leaf brewed by Kichwa communities for centuries — naturally caffeinated, smoother than coffee, without the crash of a sugared energy drink. This guide specimens every US-market guayusa product side by side: format, caffeine, origin, certifications, and how it actually tastes.
Editor's pick
Featured specimen
Browse by format
4 ways to take it
Loose leaf gives you control over strength; bags are built for speed; powder and liquid extract skip brewing entirely.
Loose Leaf
Full leaf, longer steep, the most traditional preparation.
FORMAT / 02Tea Bags
Pre-portioned, consistent strength, no infuser needed.
FORMAT / 03Powder
Mixes instantly into water or a smoothie — no steeping at all.
FORMAT / 04Extract
A liquid tincture dosed by the dropperful — the fastest format to take.
COMPARESide-by-side comparator
Pick any specimens and overlay their scores.
Certifications & sourcing
Organic, fair trade, and Chakra Alliance Certified
Badges below reflect what each brand or Amazon listing discloses — never a claim we invented. "Chakra Alliance Certified" is a real third-party certification from Chakra Alliance, a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, for traditional Amazonian "chakra" agroforestry practices that protect biodiversity and support fair labor — see our guide to what it means.
USDA Organic
USDA-certified organic growing and processing.
9 of 21 specimens
Non-GMO
Verified non-genetically-modified sourcing.
0 of 21 specimens
Fair Trade
Certified fair-trade sourcing and labor practices.
0 of 21 specimens
Gluten Free
Amazon-listed gluten-free diet type.
12 of 21 specimens
Kosher
Amazon-listed kosher diet type.
5 of 21 specimens
Plant Based
Amazon-listed plant-based diet type.
14 of 21 specimens
Vegan
Amazon-listed vegan diet type.
9 of 21 specimens
Vegetarian
Amazon-listed vegetarian diet type.
5 of 21 specimens
Keto
Amazon-listed keto-friendly diet type.
10 of 21 specimens
Chakra Alliance Certified ↗
Third-party certified by Chakra Alliance, a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, for Amazonian agroforestry practices that protect biodiversity and support fair labor.
6 of 21 specimens
Full catalog
All 21 specimens, ranked by Our Score within each format
Each group is sorted by Our Score, highest first — see how it's calculated. See the full catalog page →
Loose Leaf 12
Pacha Ancient Energy Guayusa Tea, Traditional Guayusa Loose Leaf, 32 oz (2 LB)
View on Amazon →Visit websiteTea Bags 7
Powder 1
Beyond the leaf
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