Guayusa Powder & Guayusa Cacao: 5 Easy Recipes (Smoothie, Latte, Pre-Workout)

Steeping a cup of loose leaf is the classic way to drink guayusa. But some mornings call for something you can blend, shake or press in a couple of minutes.

That's where guayusa powder, Instant Guayusa and Guayusa Cacao come in. Below are five simple recipes we like, each using our documented brewing methods plus a few everyday kitchen ingredients. We've included the approximate caffeine in each so you always know what's in your glass.

Meet the Three Ingredients

Guayusa Powder. The whole guayusa leaf, finely ground. You blend it straight into a drink instead of steeping and straining, so nothing goes to waste. The flavor is strong and earthy with a pleasant bitterness. One teaspoon (about 6 g) has about 120 mg of caffeine, one of our strongest formats, and a 4 oz bag gives you about 19 teaspoons. Shop Guayusa Powder.

Instant Guayusa Pure. Dissolves completely in hot or cold water in about 30 seconds. One serving is 1 g (about 1/4 teaspoon) with roughly 60 mg of caffeine. Shop Instant Guayusa Pure.

Guayusa Cacao. Our guayusa leaf blended with Ecuadorian fine aroma cacao and brewed in a French press. Light cacao aroma, a floral note and no added sugar, with about 80 mg of caffeine per teaspoon. Shop Guayusa Cacao.

For comparison, the FDA puts a 12 oz cup of brewed coffee at about 113–247 mg of caffeine.

1. Banana Oat Guayusa Smoothie

A creamy, fruity way to meet guayusa powder for the first time. Banana and oat milk soften its earthy edge.

Ingredients (1 glass)

• 1 teaspoon Guayusa Powder
• 1 ripe banana (frozen for a thicker smoothie)
• 1 cup oat milk (or any milk)
• 1 teaspoon honey, optional
• A handful of ice

Steps

1. Add everything to a blender.
2. Blend for 30–45 seconds until smooth.
3. Taste and add more honey or milk if you like.

Caffeine: about 120 mg. New to guayusa? Start with 1/2 teaspoon (roughly half the caffeine).

2. Blender Guayusa Latte

No espresso machine required. Blending the powder into warm milk gives you a frothy, café-style drink.

Ingredients (1 mug)

• 1 teaspoon Guayusa Powder
• 1 cup warm milk or oat milk (warm, not boiling)
• 1 teaspoon honey
• A pinch of cinnamon

Steps

1. Warm the milk on the stove or in the microwave.
2. Add the milk, powder and honey to a blender and blend for about 20 seconds until foamy.
3. Pour into a mug and dust with cinnamon.

Caffeine: about 120 mg.

Variation: Guayusa Powder can also be brewed in a stovetop espresso maker for a short, strong shot. Top it with warm milk for a guayusa "espresso latte." The caffeine depends on how much powder you use, so go easy at first.

3. Guayusa Powder Cold Brew

The easiest make-ahead option. Prepare it at night and it's waiting in the fridge in the morning.

Ingredients (1 serving)

• 1 teaspoon Guayusa Powder
• 8 oz cold water
• Ice, and a squeeze of lemon or a little honey if you like

Steps

1. Stir the powder into cold water in a jar. No heat needed.
2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
3. Stir again, strain through a fine filter if you prefer it clear, and pour over ice.

Caffeine: about 120 mg.

For more hot, iced and cold brew methods, see How to Make Guayusa Tea.

4. Pre-Workout Lemon Guayusa Cooler

Looking for a pre-workout tea recipe? Here, "pre-workout" simply means a caffeinated drink you have before exercise. This one dissolves in seconds, so it works even when you're heading out the door.

Ingredients (1 bottle or glass)

• 1/4 teaspoon (1 g) Instant Guayusa Pure
• 8 oz cold water
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 teaspoon honey, optional
• Ice

Steps

1. Add the instant guayusa to cold water and stir or shake for about 30 seconds until dissolved.
2. Add lemon juice and honey, and shake again.
3. Pour over ice or carry it in a bottle.

Caffeine: about 60 mg.

Timing tip: MedlinePlus notes that caffeine's effects usually peak within about an hour, so some people like to drink it 30–60 minutes before they start. This drink isn't a sports supplement, and we don't make performance claims. Many people describe guayusa's lift as smooth, but everyone responds to caffeine differently. If you work out in the evening, keep in mind it may affect your sleep.

5. Guayusa Cacao French Press Mocha

Somewhere between tea, coffee and hot chocolate. A good weekend recipe for sharing.

Ingredients (8-cup French press)

• 36 g (about 6 tablespoons) Guayusa Cacao
• Hot water to fill the press
• Warm milk, honey and cinnamon to serve, optional

Steps

1. Warm the French press with hot water, then discard it.
2. Add the Guayusa Cacao and fill with hot water.
3. Steep for 6–9 minutes.
4. Press and pour right away into a carafe so it doesn't turn bitter.
5. For a mocha, fill each mug halfway with Guayusa Cacao and top with warm milk, a little honey and a pinch of cinnamon.

Caffeine: about 80 mg per teaspoon of Guayusa Cacao.

Iced version: let it cool and pour over ice.

A Few Tips

• Mind your total. The FDA says up to 400 mg of caffeine a day is not generally associated with negative effects in healthy adults. Two powder recipes in one day already add up to about 240 mg. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, take medication or are sensitive to caffeine, talk to your doctor first. Read more in How Much Caffeine Is in Guayusa?
• Start small. If you're new to guayusa powder, half a teaspoon is a gentle place to begin.
• Keep it simple. Guayusa's earthy flavor pairs naturally with banana, oat milk, honey, cinnamon and lemon.

Ready to start blending? Pick up a bag of Guayusa Powder for smoothies and lattes, or Guayusa Cacao for a slow weekend mocha.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is guayusa powder?

Guayusa powder is the whole guayusa leaf, finely ground. Instead of steeping and straining, you blend it into smoothies, milk, juice, yogurt or water, so you consume the entire leaf. PACHA Guayusa Powder has a strong, earthy flavor with a pleasant bitterness and about 120 mg of caffeine per teaspoon. You can also brew it as hot tea, cold brew or in a stovetop espresso maker.

What are the benefits of guayusa powder?

Guayusa powder's main draw is its natural caffeine, about 120 mg per teaspoon, which helps you feel alert. Because it's the whole leaf, it's also convenient: it blends into smoothies and lattes with no steeping. Like brewed guayusa, it contains chlorogenic acids and other polyphenols, but it isn't proven to treat or prevent any condition or to help with weight loss.

What is guayusa cacao?

Guayusa Cacao is PACHA's blend of guayusa leaf and Ecuadorian fine aroma cacao. You brew it like coffee in a French press: about 36 g (6 tablespoons) for an 8-cup press, steeped 6–9 minutes. It has a light cacao aroma, a floral note, no added sugar and about 80 mg of caffeine per teaspoon. Add milk and honey for a mocha-style drink.

Can I use guayusa as a pre-workout drink?

Yes, in the sense that it's a caffeinated drink you can have before exercise. A serving of Instant Guayusa Pure has about 60 mg of caffeine and dissolves in cold water in 30 seconds. It isn't a sports supplement, and we don't make performance claims. Keep your total daily caffeine in mind, and talk to your doctor if you have a heart condition.

How much guayusa powder should I use?

Our recommended serving is 1 teaspoon, which has about 120 mg of caffeine, in the range of a cup of coffee (the FDA puts 12 oz of brewed coffee at about 113–247 mg). If you're new to guayusa or sensitive to caffeine, start with half a teaspoon. Avoid it in the evening if caffeine affects your sleep, and count it toward your daily total.