A bright, pale-gold iced tea with just three extra ingredients. Lemon and guayusa are a natural match: the citrus lifts the leaf's earthy notes, and a spoon of honey rounds everything off.
At a glance
- Serves: 1 · Prep: 5 min · Steep: 8–10 min · Total: about 30 min, including cooling
- Recommended guayusa: Golden (smooth and mellow)
- Caffeine: about 66 mg with a 5 g Golden bag (about 52 mg with 4 g of loose leaf)
Ingredients
- 1 Golden guayusa tea bag (or 2 full tsp Golden loose leaf)
- 8 oz hot water
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tsp honey
- A lemon wheel, to garnish
- Ice
Instructions
- Steep the guayusa in 8 oz of hot water for 8–10 minutes (longer than usual, because the ice will dilute it). Remove the bag or strain the leaves and let it cool, or keep a pitcher in the fridge.
- Stir in the lemon juice and honey.
- Pour over a glass full of ice and garnish with a lemon wheel.
Tip: Roll the lemon on the counter before you cut it to get more juice, and taste before adding honey: some lemons need none.
Why Golden guayusa?
Golden guayusa is the smoothest and most mellow of our three varieties, so the lemon stays in front and the drink keeps its light golden color. You can buy it as Golden Guayusa Tea Bags – 50 Count or as Golden 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 Iced Guayusa Recipes With Fresh Fruit. 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 lemon guayusa?
About 66 mg with a 5 g Golden bag (about 52 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.