Runa Guayusa Was Discontinued — Here's What to Drink Instead

Start here: everything about the leaf, from taste to caffeine to brewing, is in our complete guayusa tea guide.

If you've been searching store shelves for Runa guayusa and coming up empty, you're not imagining it. Runa is gone. In 2024, Vita Coco, which owned the brand, discontinued Runa and all of its products, as reported by BevNET.

For a lot of people, Runa was their introduction to guayusa, the caffeinated Amazonian leaf. Runa helped put guayusa on the map in the United States, and plenty of fans are now wondering where to get their daily cup.

The good news: guayusa itself isn't going anywhere. Here's a quick, honest guide to keep drinking it.

To be clear: PACHA is an independent guayusa company. We have no relationship with Runa or Vita Coco, and our products are not Runa products.

What happened to Runa?

According to BevNET, Vita Coco discontinued the Runa brand and its entire product line in 2024. That included the guayusa teas and the canned guayusa energy drinks the brand was known for. If you still see Runa listings online, they're likely leftover inventory or third-party resellers, so check expiration dates carefully before you buy.

Looking for Waykana guayusa?

Runa isn't the only name some guayusa drinkers are missing. As of October 2026, Waykana's guayusa listings on Amazon show as "currently unavailable." If that's the cup you were after, PACHA's guayusa from the Ecuadorian Amazon is another way to keep the same leaf in your routine.

Why people loved guayusa in the first place

Whatever brand first brought you to it, the reasons people stick with guayusa tend to be the same:

• Real caffeine from a leaf. Guayusa (Ilex guayusa) is one of the few naturally caffeinated plants, a holly related to yerba mate.
• A smooth, earthy taste. It's less astringent than many green teas and has no roasted bitterness.
• A steady-feeling lift. Many drinkers describe guayusa as smoother than coffee, with less of a spike and dip. Everyone responds to caffeine differently, of course.
• A story worth supporting. Guayusa comes from the Ecuadorian Amazon, where communities have traditionally gathered before dawn to drink it.

New to the leaf, or want a refresher? Read what is guayusa.

If you loved Runa tea bags, try these

If your routine was a guayusa tea bag in the morning, the easiest swap is another guayusa tea bag. We can't tell you how our bags compare with Runa's recipes, but we can tell you exactly what's in ours: 100% guayusa leaf from the Ecuadorian Amazon, nothing added.

Guayusa Tea Bags, 100 count: an everyday cup. Each bag holds 2.5 g of leaf with about 41 mg of caffeine, similar to a cup of black tea. The flavor is lightly earthy and easygoing.

Guayusa Tea Bags, 50 count: a stronger cup. Each bag holds 5 g of leaf with about 82 mg of caffeine, close to a cup of coffee. The flavor has a medium earthiness. It's a good pick if you want guayusa to replace your morning coffee.

Our bags have no tags, no strings and no individual wrappers, so there's less waste. Steep one in 8 oz of hot water for 5 minutes, or longer for a stronger cup.

Ready to go loose leaf?

Loose leaf is the best value per cup and the most flexible way to brew. Our Guayusa Loose Leaf (2 lb) is a medium cut with an earthy aroma, a pleasant medium bitterness and a lightly floral, slightly sweet finish, at about 66 mg of caffeine per serving. At a 4 g serving, one bag makes roughly 225 cups. Use 2 heaping teaspoons per 8 oz of boiling water and steep 5–10 minutes.

Not sure how much caffeine you want? Compare every format in our guide to guayusa caffeine content.

For Runa energy drink fans

If you reached for a cold can of Runa in the afternoon, you can make your own cold guayusa at home. No can and no added sugar, unless you want it.

Cold-brew guayusa (easiest):

1. Drop guayusa tea bags or loose leaf into a pitcher of cold water.
2. Stir and refrigerate.
3. Strain (or pull the bags) after 2 hours or more.
4. Pour over ice. Add a squeeze of citrus or a little honey if you like.

Iced guayusa (fastest): Brew a cup hot, let it cool to room temperature, then pour it over ice or refrigerate.

Instant guayusa (on the go): Instant Guayusa Pure dissolves in about 30 seconds. Stir ¼ teaspoon (1 g, about 60 mg of caffeine) into 8 oz of cold or hot water. One 30 g pack gives you 30 servings, easy to keep at your desk or in your gym bag.

For more methods and ratios, see how to make guayusa tea.

Who's behind PACHA?

PACHA is a guayusa company focused on one leaf, which we call Ancient Energy. We work directly with small-scale farmers in the Ecuadorian Amazon, with no middlemen, fair prices and regular purchases. Our guayusa is grown in the traditional chakra system, shaded by a diverse forest rather than planted in monoculture. The leaves are hand-picked, air-dried and oven-dried (never smoked) and packed in small batches.

We offer three varieties from the same leaf, Traditional, Golden and Green, plus instant, powder and cacao blends, so there's a guayusa for every part of your day.

A note on caffeine

Guayusa contains caffeine. The FDA notes that up to 400 mg a day is not generally associated with negative effects in healthy adults. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication or are sensitive to caffeine, talk to your doctor before making guayusa part of your routine.

Keep the guayusa ritual going

Runa may be gone, but the leaf and the morning ritual behind it are still here. If you miss your daily cup, start with our 100-count Guayusa Tea Bags and pick up right where you left off.

Missing your old routine? Browse our guayusa tea bags for the quickest swap, or try our loose leaf guayusa for the most cups per bag.

Keep reading: Guayusa vs Yerba Mate · Iced Guayusa Recipes With Fresh Fruit · Guayusa vs Energy Drinks

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Runa guayusa discontinued?

Yes. According to BevNET, Vita Coco, which owned Runa, discontinued the brand and all of its products in 2024. That includes the guayusa teas and canned energy drinks. Any Runa products still listed online are likely leftover stock or resale, so check the expiration date before buying.

Can I still buy Runa tea bags?

Runa is no longer producing tea bags, so you may only find leftover inventory from resellers. If you want to keep drinking guayusa, other brands still sell it. PACHA offers 100% guayusa tea bags from the Ecuadorian Amazon in two strengths: 2.5 g bags (~41 mg caffeine) and 5 g bags (~82 mg caffeine).

Is PACHA the same company as Runa?

No. PACHA is an independent guayusa company with no relationship to Runa or Vita Coco. We source guayusa directly from small-scale farmers in the Ecuadorian Amazon, grown in the traditional chakra agroforestry system. Our products are our own and are not a continuation or reformulation of Runa products.

What can I drink instead of Runa energy drinks?

A simple option is cold-brew guayusa: steep tea bags or loose leaf in cold water for 2 hours or more, then serve over ice. For something faster, Instant Guayusa Pure dissolves in cold water in about 30 seconds, with about 60 mg of caffeine per 1 g serving. You control the sweetness.

Is guayusa still available in the US?

Yes. Even though Runa was discontinued, guayusa itself is still grown in Ecuador and sold in the United States. PACHA ships its loose leaf, tea bags, instant, powder and cacao guayusa within the US, typically processing orders in 1–3 days with delivery in 2–10 days.