Lemolicious Ecuadorian Guayusa

Tea type
Fruit Guayusa Blend
Ingredients
Not available
Flavors
Not available
Sold in
Not available
Caffeine
Not available
Certification
Not available
Edit tea info Last updated by Southern Boy Teas
Average preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 45 sec

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14 Tasting Notes View all

  • “I’m the first to log this? OK… I got this in my package that arrived on Christmas Eve (along with a few others from 52Teas that I just had to try!) and this is the last of them that I’m trying...” Read full tasting note
    86
  • “This poor guy was forgotten for the past week, but I thought a nice energy boost was needed this morning. We’re in the middle of a snowfall dump (no snow right now, but treacherous looking...” Read full tasting note
    83
  • “I can’t really rate this as I don’t know what plain guayusa tastes like nor how that translates to a flavored blend of it. This was a sample from RachanaC and I enjoyed it. It’s light and...” Read full tasting note
  • “This is definitely lemon and definitely delicious, so it’s true to its name. I was actually surprised at how light yet very lemon-y the tea brewed up. (I expected a dark, blacker tea. Not sure...” Read full tasting note
    88

From 52teas

Well, we’ve got lots of information to convey this week, so let me get right to it and start by saying it is pronounced (“why-you-suh”). Think Foghorn Leghorn: “Why-you-suh, I say, you sir, are about to experience an amazing new tea!”

A little while back, 52teas was contacted by a representative from Runa, a new company that is working to create a supply chain for Ecuadorian guayusa [they are actually doing much more than that, but more on that in a minute]. They contacted us to tell us about this amazing new tisane and wanted to know if we would be interested in creating blends with it to offer to our customers. I don’t think they had any idea what an easy sale they had on their hands. 52teas try something new? Nah. We wouldn’t do that, would we? Well, yes, we would, and we do, every week, 52 weeks per year.

Anyway, we got our shipment of guayusa in, and we didn’t waste much time tearing into it. Here’s the skinny on this fantastic new tisane: Opening the package reveals small, dark, leafy bits, dark green and somewhat vegetal and earthy smelling, maybe a bit more on the earthy than vegetal side. When you brew it up, the first thing you notice is WOW it is REALLY dark, like close to opaque in a clear glass kind of dark. The earthy scent subsides a little. It’s still there, but now it’s starting to smell more like a very rich black tea. The first sip makes you think you over-steeped it. It’s very, very bold and rich, but just as you brace yourself for that bitter astringency of tea over-steeped, you realize, it’s not coming. This tea has absolutely NO astringency. It’s just a full, round, rich, flavorful pleasantness. It reminds me slightly of a pu-erh, but not quite so earthy. It’s actually probably more like the boldest breakfast blend you can find, brewed as strong as you can make it, but missing even the slightest hint of that tongue-drying astringency. As a former pipe-smoker (tomorrow is four weeks without smoking, go me!), this puts me in mind of a nice bowl of black cavendish with just a touch of burley but without any tongue-bite. I miss my pipe. Okay, anyway….

I brought some of the guayusa home to share with my wife, who really enjoyed it as well. In her words: “It’s like really dark tea that doesn’t get bitter.” Sheri pretty much prefers rooibos, honeybush, green and white teas over black teas. When she has a black tea, I often have to ask her if she’s drinking tea or just dirty water. She remarked after drinking the guayusa that the reason she drinks such diluted black tea is because she can’t stand the bitter astringency of black tea, but that this has none and she loved it.

I was debating what sort of blend we should create with this new ingredient, and Sheri kept insisting it needed to be a lemon blend. I thought lemon was kind of plain, but it did sound good. The problem I saw was that as bold as the guayusa is, it would take some serious doing to convince it to take on any other flavors. But that’s just what we did: I pulled out all the stops to give this bold guayusa a nice gentle (but noticeable) lemon nudge. We added lemon myrtle, lemon balm, lemongrass, lemon verbena, lemon peel and some sun-dried lemon slices along with natural lemon flavors.

In the process, we created what I’m going to refer to as Lemon Aid, which is a blend of (yup:) lemon myrtle, lemon balm, lemongrass, lemon verbena, lemon peel and some sun-dried lemon slices along with natural lemon flavors–which I felt was bold and awesome enough that perhaps some folks would like to make a tea out of, or perhaps add in with whatever teas they are steeping for a little extra lemon zing.

So, our tea of the week this week is Lemolicious Ecuadorian Guayusa (Sheri insisted on the name too). But we also have a little bit of unflavored guayusa (Not very much!) and some of our Lemon Aid. Enjoy!

About 52teas View company

At 52teas.com, you will find unique, hand-blended artisan loose leaf teas: a new limited edition creation every week of the year. We pride ourselves on offering truly unique, one-of-a-kind tea blends that you won’t find anywhere else.

14 Tasting Notes

86
4843 tasting notes

I’m the first to log this? OK…

I got this in my package that arrived on Christmas Eve (along with a few others from 52Teas that I just had to try!) and this is the last of them that I’m trying out… I have to admit I was a little scared of Guayusa. I’m not sure why, except that it is something new to me.

But this is REALLY good. I shouldn’t be surprised by now, because Frank knows his stuff. Lemon-y deliciousness, slightly sweet, not very tart at all. I am trying to pick out the guayusa “flavor” but I guess I’m at a disadvantage simply because I haven’t tried it by itself. There is a smooth, rich earthiness in the background that I would describe as a flavor that sits somewhere between pu-erh and yerba mate, but leaning more toward the yerba mate.

It is definitely worth more exploration, and I think I may have to order the plain Guayusa the next time I place an order.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec
RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas

I ordered this and Lemon Aid on Dec. 20th and have yet to receive it :-(

LiberTEAS

:( Sorry to hear that. I think that the mail is just a bit slow – perhaps in some areas more than others. Hopefully it will arrive soon. I have really enjoyed this.

TeaEqualsBliss

I would love to try this one!

TeaEqualsBliss

I just dropped Ricky a note about guayusa asking if he thought Steepster would be making it a separate category of it’s own or if we are to include it as an Herbal like we are so far. I really think this is going to gain popularity much like Yerba Mate and this it would be neat to have it’s own cat – but I do understand if they want us to just put it in with the Herbals, too…

Batrachoid

Fascinating. It goes to show how important conservation is. One has to wonder what other amazing teas/tisanes lurk for discovery in the rainforests. I definately would put guyasa in its own catagory; I’m getting some as soon as the chance arises.

RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas

I still haven’t received my package. So very sad. I hope the mail gets things sorted. I really wanted to try this.

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83
709 tasting notes

This poor guy was forgotten for the past week, but I thought a nice energy boost was needed this morning. We’re in the middle of a snowfall dump (no snow right now, but treacherous looking sidewalks) and I need to convince myself to go to work.

Back to the tea.

It has a strange smell – more lemon peel than lemon juice. There is another aspect to the smell that can’t identify, I presume that is the guayusa. The liquor steeps up an ugly deep green/brown. Very much like an olive green. For those who have had it, this tea reminds me (in colour) of David’s Tea’s Swamp Water. The steeped smell is a little more friendly, but I still get a sharp tangy sort of smell.

I don’t know anything about steeping guayusa, so I went with 1.5 solid teaspoons for 2 mugs of tea. I usually under-tea a little bit as I tend to go for longer steeping times. I used water that had cooled for a minute after boiling, and I let it steep about 5 minutes. Partially because I forgot.

I’ve managed to have a few sips so far. It’s very mild, surprisingly. I taste a hint of lemon something. Not nearly what I expected. As for the guayusa, I don’t know what it tastes like, but nothing is leaping out at me. Bigger sips have the same result. Interesting mouth feel at the end of the sip, but might be the brown bread I’m having with it.

This is an interesting tea. Not bad. Not knocking my socks off. Just an interesting option among the others, I think. It seems to remind me more of medicine than any other tea I have, a little reminiscent of neo-citron, only without the terrible medicine punch.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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177 tasting notes

I can’t really rate this as I don’t know what plain guayusa tastes like nor how that translates to a flavored blend of it. This was a sample from RachanaC and I enjoyed it.
It’s light and refreshing, the dark color was not distracting and let me wake from just the tea’s taste and caffeine. Quite a nice smooth start to the dark, unearthly eartly morning I sampled it on. Ironically the the second cup I had for dessert yesterday didn’t keep me awake and I think it would hold up to milk if you like that. Like I said, I can’t judge it well but this is a pleasant flavored tea. Now who would make plain guayusa? Hmm…

Jillian

Does it have a bigger caffeine kick than tea?

Tyler Gage

Hey Batrachoid. Glad you enjoyed the pleasant flavor. Guayusa is indeed perfect for the early morning time, as that is when Amazonian communities traditionally drink it. Send me a note if you would like to sample some plain guayusa and we’ll be sure to send you some samples. Cheers!

Batrachoid

@Jillian No, I’d say it’s the same kick, just more gradual in its delivery.

@Tykler Gage: Oh, wow, I meant that as a joke since we all know Runa’s just about the only guayusa producer right now but I would really like that if it’s not too much trouble. I seem to be starting my days at three or four far too often…

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88
576 tasting notes

This is definitely lemon and definitely delicious, so it’s true to its name. I was actually surprised at how light yet very lemon-y the tea brewed up. (I expected a dark, blacker tea. Not sure why.)

For me, I smell more of the grassy, earthy side of this tea and less lemon – once it’s brewed and sitting in my cup, awaiting sippage (just invented a new word there). Open the package and you are immediately blasted with a pleasant aura of lemon, kinda like lemonade. But the actual taste is heavy on the lemon, with a sweetness to it. I credit the sweet grass earthiness.

Bottom line: I may mark that I have this in my cupboard, but honestly folks, it won’t last all that long. Delish!

Preparation
165 °F / 73 °C 3 min, 0 sec
ColumbiaKate

Love “Sippage”
For an outstanding sip, make it Siptastic!

KeenTeaThyme

OK, you’re on! :)

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81
431 tasting notes

Well, I finally got this. I am so glad since I was patiently and eagerly waiting to try it. I actually bought it the day it was released and then a week later won the contest on 52 Teas so I have 2 pouches now. This makes me very happy. As far as the simulating factor I can say I was sad to see there seems to be no stimulating effects on me. I feel asleep about 30 mins after drinking it. I am hoping drinking it more will help improve it’s stimulating effects. As for the taste I found it was a little earthy which for me is a good thing. I am also loving the lemon addition but I admit I was hoping the lemon would be stronger. Nevertheless, it was worth the wait. Another winner for Frank.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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91
13 tasting notes

This is my fourth resteep and it has no less flavor! It only took another mintue as well!

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec
Uniquity

Fourth steep today? : )

Debus

I did it yesterday but forgot to post.

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865 tasting notes

2/6

My review is a lot like LiberTEAS’ in some ways. Never had Guayusa either. I have had yerba mate though and I agree w/ her that this has a lot of similar qualities. Not sure if I even prepared this currectly because there were no steeping parameters on the package. Eh. It’s ok. Waiting to rate it til I find out what Guayusa is supposed to taste like.

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24 tasting notes

When my coworker came back from New York she brought a few teas from 52 teas with her and said i could try some :D After having another citrusy tea this morning, it seemed good to try another one!

Right when i opened the package the aroma of the lemon and citrus hit me. It reminded me of my grandmas homemade lemonade. I also picked up a scent i didn’t recognize and i am still assuming it is the Guayusa. Upon looking at the leaves more closely, and besides noticing the leaves look extremely dark, i was able to pick out lemon verbena, lemongrass, and lemon myrtle two of which being some of my favorite herbs.
When i began to steep it i decided i would let it do so for about 5 mins and see what happened. After checking up on it at 2 mins i nearly screamed because it was so dark and i was afraid i overbrewed it.
The taste is wonderful tho! It has all the wonderful citrus notes and the lemon verbena really ties the flavors together I think. The first cup was a little lacking in flavor only because my silly almost heart attack, but the second cup tastes amazing! Having never tried Guayusa before, I like it alot. It def compliments the herbs and enhances the flavors for a great taste and mouth feel.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec
Southern Boy Teas

I love that you thought you oversteeped this. It is DARK. I am personally a big fan of the guayusa. Planning on another guayusa blend soon.

Mad_Alyss_14

Yeah it is extremely dark! lol but it is so good! I can’t wait for the new blend!

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43
39 tasting notes

Steeping for three minutes got me a dark brownish liquid with a greenish hue that made me hesitant to try this blend. Over-steeped tea and I don’t get along – in fact, I chronically under-steep most teas out of fear of drinking bitter tea. But this tea wasn’t over-steeped, it just looked a bit darker than I was used to. The flavor is slightly woodsy, but no where near as woodsy as a roobois. It has some depth to it, not as strong as a black tea but definitely not as light as a white, maybe more on the level of a green tea without the green tea taste. After it cooled a bit I started to get a hint of the lemon. Second steeping proved to be identical to the first, which was nice. Overall an interesting flavor, but not something I’d reach for on a regular basis.

Thanks to LiberTea for passing on a sample!

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