Guayusa, Ecuador's "super leaf" tea
Mysterious Earth reports: According to National Geographic: Guayusa tea has great health benefits for the drinker and economic benefits for the indigenous people who grow it.
For the Kichwa people of the Ecuadorian Amazon, teatime traditions don't require delicate little bite-size sandwiches paired with porcelain cups. Their teatime begins at 3 p.m., when members of the indigenous community gather around a fire to brew guayusa tea; the drink is high in caffeine and has twice the antioxidant content of green tea.
The "super leaf" guayusa does more than provide the villagers with the energy they need to get through the day - it has recently become a sustainable source of income that will bring in a total of $400,000 this year for more than 3,000 families.
We asked Tyler Gage, co-founder of the Runa Foundation, a nonprofit that works with indigenous communities to protect the Amazon rainforest, to talk about guayusa and what the plant means to the Quechua and the world.
What is Guayusa? Where does it exist?
About 98% of the world's guayusa is found in Ecuador. It is native to a narrow strip of land in the upper Amazon River, just off the Andes Mountains. It is brewed the same way as tea, but it is not related to green or black tea. Guayusa brews a tea with about the same amount of caffeine as coffee. It is also high in polyphenols, the most common compounds we call antioxidants. It is also very high in chlorogenic acid, which is the hottest and most popular weight loss product and is good for the heart.
What is the history of the guayusa plant? What does it mean to the Quechua people of this region of Ecuador?
One of my favorite stories about guayusa is about its origin. In ancient times, people prayed to the gods for a plant that would teach them to dream. Twins paddled a canoe down a river to find the plant. They woke up in the middle of the night and saw a fairy village on the other side of the river. They walked to a palace and climbed the stairs into heaven. There they met all of their ancestors from every generation. The ancestors gave them a plant and said, "This plant will help your people and connect you to the dream world." When they woke up in the morning, they still held the plant in their hands. They brought it back to the community, and guayusa became a centerpiece of their culture.
They still cherished the plant. Now the Quechua have begun to export the guayusa leaves. What does this mean for their community and the surrounding area?
In the past, the main source of income for farmers was logging. They also worked as migrant workers and grew some crops, such as corn, coffee or cocoa. They had a hard time feeding their families or having a stable and sustainable source of income.
[Guayusa] is grown in what the Quechua call chacra, which is basically a forest farm. It uses no fertilizers, no chemicals, nothing. It allows for a sustainable flow of nutrients between species, just like a rainforest can be self-sustaining without human intervention. So it requires very low inputs and replicates the structure of a natural rainforest.
Guayusa extract powder is obtained from the leaves of the Guayusa (lexGuayusa) plant.It has attracted much attentionfor its high caffeine content and potential health benefits.First,let's learn about the Guayusa plant itself.Guayusa is anevergreen tree belonging to the Aquifoliaceae family.Guayusa leaves are oblong with a smooth surface and a distinctmidrib.These characteristic leaves are used to make Guayusa tea and extracts. The extracts contain high concentrationsof active ingredients such as caffeine and antioxidants.A natural stimulant, caffeine helps improve focus and alertnesswhile lowering weariness. Therefore,Guayusa also makes energy drinks and dietary supplements designed to providelong-lasting and precise energy.
Furthermore, research has demonstrated the abundance of antioxidants in Guayusa leaves, including vitamin C, aminoacids, and polyphenolic chemicals.These antioxidants prevent oxidative stress and neutralize free radicals, protecting thebody's cells from oxidative damage. Therefore, it is believed to have antioxidant effects that help prevent chronic diseasesand slow aging.
Guayusa is high in antioxidants, caffeine, and other nutrients like vitamins and minerals. Guayusa extract powder contains caffeine, which provides a stimulant effect similar to coffee.lmproves focus and thinking and Psychological relief.
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