A chocolate-scented iced guayusa with no added sugar. Add a splash of milk if you'd like it creamier.
At a glance
- Serves: 1 · Prep: 5 min · Steep: 8–10 min · Total: about 30 min, including cooling
- Recommended guayusa: Traditional (rich and bold)
- Caffeine: about 41 mg with a 2.5 g bag or about 82 mg with a 5 g bag (about 66 mg with 4 g of loose leaf)
Ingredients
- 1 Traditional guayusa tea bag (or 2 full tsp Traditional loose leaf)
- 8 oz hot water
- 1 tbsp cacao nibs, lightly crushed
- Ice
Instructions
- Steep the guayusa with the crushed cacao nibs in 8 oz of hot water for 8–10 minutes.
- Strain and let it cool.
- Pour over ice.
Tip: Our own Guayusa Cacao is back in 2027; until then, store-bought cacao nibs make an easy stand-in.
Why Traditional guayusa?
Traditional guayusa is rich and bold, so the cacao notes come through even over ice. You can buy it as Guayusa Tea Bags – 100 Count or as Traditional Guayusa Loose Leaf.
Any of our three guayusas works in this recipe: Traditional gives a darker, bolder drink; Golden a smoother, golden one; Green the lightest color and caffeine. Compare them all in our guayusa tea bags and loose leaf guayusa collections.
More guayusa recipes
Find this recipe and its companions in Guayusa Herbal Tea Recipes. New to brewing guayusa? Start with How to Make Guayusa Tea. For everything else about the leaf, see our guayusa tea guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much caffeine is in iced cacao nib guayusa?
About 41 mg with a 2.5 g bag or about 82 mg with a 5 g bag (about 66 mg with 4 g of loose leaf). Caffeine varies a little from harvest to harvest, so treat this as an approximate figure.
Can I use a different guayusa?
Yes. Traditional gives a darker, bolder drink; Golden a smoother, golden one; Green the lightest color and caffeine. The recipe works the same way with tea bags or loose leaf.
Can I make a pitcher in advance?
Yes. Multiply the recipe by four, steep in 32 oz of hot water for 8–10 minutes, strain and keep it in the fridge. Add the fresh ingredients and ice when you serve.