How to Brew Guayusa Loose Leaf Tea (Steep Time & Temperature)

Guayusa is forgiving to brew — it doesn't turn bitter as fast as green tea if you oversteep it slightly, which makes it a good starting point if you're new to loose-leaf tea.

The basic ratio

Use about 1 teaspoon (roughly 2g) of loose leaf per 8oz (240ml) of water. Scale up proportionally for a full pot.

Water temperature

Guayusa likes it hot — bring water to a full rolling boil (100°C / 212°F) before pouring it over the leaves, unlike more delicate green teas that call for cooler water.

Steep time

Start at 4 minutes and taste every 30 seconds from there — most people land somewhere between 4 and 7 minutes. Shorter steeps give a lighter, smoother cup; longer steeps pull out more caffeine and a fuller body.

Tea bags vs. loose leaf

If you'd rather skip the infuser entirely, tea bags use the same ratio and timing pre-portioned. For an even faster option with no steeping at all, this catalog also includes a powder format (stir into water or a smoothie) and a liquid extract (dosed by the dropperful).

A note on the traditional method

In Kichwa communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon, guayusa is traditionally boiled with whole leaves and shared from large gourds well before sunrise, as part of a family gathering — a very different ritual from a quick single mug, but the same core idea: hot water, whole leaf, no rush.

Steep times and caffeine content vary by brand and cut — check each product's full profile for what the manufacturer actually discloses.