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Guayusa from Ecuador – Whole Leaves, Ilex guayusa
€27.95
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Whole dried leaves of guayusa, Ilex guayusa, a holly (Aquifoliaceae) whose native range covers Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. The supplier names Ecuador as the country. The leaves are left uncut and sold by weight in 50 g, 250 g and 1 kg, as a collectible, not for consumption.See also: Smart Seeds & Herbs · Peruvian whole leaves
- Botanical name: Ilex guayusa Loes.
- Family: Aquifoliaceae (holly family)
- Synonym: Ilex utilis
Smart Seeds & Herbs · Ilex guayusa Loes. · 250 g / 50 g / 1 kg
Whole dried guayusa leaves, Ecuador
This product holds whole dried leaves of guayusa, Ilex guayusa. The supplier record for reference 4645 gives leaf as the plant part, whole as the form and Ecuador as the country. The photos show the leaves heaped on a woven tray next to a kraft pouch whose green Maya Herbs label reads Guayusa, Ilex guayusa and Whole, plus a close-up of the leaves. Mycotrop sells them by weight in 50 g, 250 g and 1 kg.
- 250 g / 50 g / 1 kg
- Aquifoliaceae
- Leaf
- Whole leaves
- Botanical name
- Ilex guayusa Loes.
- Family
- Aquifoliaceae (holly family)
- Synonym
- Ilex utilis
- Common name
- Guayusa
- Plant part
- Leaf
- Form
- Whole leaves
Reported effects and traditional use
Ilex guayusa is a tree of the holly family found in the high Amazon, mainly in Ecuador. Several peoples drink its infusion early in the morning. Among the Amazonian Kichwa, the family shares it early in the morning: people tell stories, interpret dreams, dance and pray. Among the Achuar, it accompanies the wayus ritual, held before dawn.
Xanthine alkaloids, including caffeine, are its best-studied compounds, along with polyphenols and terpenes. Several of these peoples drink it mainly as a stimulant (Noriega et al. 2025).
| Known compounds | Xanthine alkaloids, including caffeine (the most important), polyphenols (chlorogenic acids) and terpenes such as ursolic acid. |
|---|---|
| Reported effects | A stimulant effect, attributed mainly to caffeine; several peoples of the high Amazon drink it mainly for this effect (Noriega et al. 2025). |
| Traditional use | Kichwa, Achuar, Shuar, Cofán and other peoples of the high Amazon: a morning drink, both family and ritual; among the Achuar, the wayus ritual before dawn. |
| State of research | Mostly laboratory and animal studies; little human data. No health claim is authorised for this plant in the EU. |
Good to know
- Guayusa contains caffeine, like coffee and tea.
- The Achuar cite headaches, nervousness and tremors as effects of excess caffeine (Noriega et al. 2025).
Botanical background
Loesener named the species Ilex guayusa in 1901. Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants accepts it within the holly family, Aquifoliaceae, lists Ilex utilis Moldenke as a synonym and records it as native to Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Ecuador, the country given by the supplier, is part of that range, and the GBIF backbone taxonomy also lists the name as accepted.
Whole leaves and the other cuts
The leaves are not cut, so each one keeps its outline. Guayusa with Ecuador as the country is also listed as finely cut leaves, and whole leaves with Peru as the country are on the page Guayusa from Peru – whole leaves.
Storing your botanicals
Keep dried plants in their tightly closed pouch or in an airtight jar, away from light, moisture and heat. Powders absorb moisture easily, so close them again straight away. For extracts, tinctures and capsules, follow the instructions on the label and the printed date.
Before using a plant
- Keep plants out of the reach of children and pets.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or taking any medication, ask a doctor or pharmacist first: many plants interact with medicines.
- Stop immediately if you have an allergic reaction or feel unwell.
- The information on this page describes the product; it does not replace medical advice.
Specifications
| Botanical name | Ilex guayusa Loes. |
|---|---|
| Family | Aquifoliaceae (holly family) |
| Synonym | Ilex utilis |
| Common name | Guayusa |
| Plant part | Leaf |
| Form | Whole leaves |
| Country | Ecuador (supplier) |
| Pack sizes | 50 g · 250 g · 1 kg |
| Supplier label | Maya Herbs |
| Reference | 4645 |
| Sold as | Collectible or souvenir item; do not consume |
Discreet delivery
Orders are packed on working days and leave in plain outer packaging that does not describe the contents. Once your order has shipped, we email you the tracking link when one is available. Estimated delivery times, right of withdrawal and exceptions: Delivery, tracking and returns.
Sources: Noriega et al. 2025, Molecules 30; supplier information; Plants of the World Online (Kew); GBIF. Updated 3 October 2026 by the Mycotrop team.
Frequently asked questions
What is guayusa traditionally used for?
Peoples of the high Amazon, such as the Kichwa and the Achuar, drink its infusion early in the morning, in family and ritual settings. The Kichwa tell stories and interpret dreams; the Achuar link it to the wayus ritual before dawn.
Does guayusa contain caffeine?
Yes. Xanthine alkaloids, including caffeine, are its main active compounds, along with polyphenols and terpenes (Noriega et al. 2025).
Which species are these leaves from?
Ilex guayusa Loes., an accepted species of the holly family (Aquifoliaceae), named in 1901.
Are the leaves cut?
No. The supplier lists the form as whole and the pouch is marked Whole; the finely cut Ecuadorian leaves are a separate listing.
Which country does the supplier give?
Ecuador, which lies within the recorded native range of the species.
Which sizes are available?
50 g, 250 g or 1 kg of the same whole leaves.
4645-250
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