Morning Guayusa with Mint and Lime
Guayusa steeped five minutes in just-off-the-boil water with fresh mint and a squeeze of lime: smooth, mellow and naturally caffeinated, for the morning.
Guayusa is the Kichwa people's traditional dawn brew, and this version turns it into a bright morning cup. Its naturally caffeinated leaves (level 2 on our scale) give a mellow, earthy base, while fresh mint and lime lift those notes into something clean and bright.
The pairing makes sense in flavor. Mint adds a cooling note that suits guayusa's soft, earthy sweetness, and a squeeze of lime brightens the mellow base. Together they make a morning cup with far less bitterness than coffee.
Steep guayusa in just-off-the-boil water for around 5 minutes—long enough to draw out its full flavor, but not so long that it turns overly earthy. Stir in the mint and lime at the end so they stay fresh and aromatic.
A note on timing: guayusa is genuinely caffeinated, so enjoy this in the morning or early afternoon and skip it in the evening if caffeine affects your sleep. As a start-the-day ritual — the Kichwa have been drinking it before dawn for centuries — it is hard to beat.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp guayusa loose leaf (or 1 bag)
- 1 1/2 cups water (just off the boil)
- 6 fresh mint leaves
- Juice of half a lime
- 1 tsp honey (optional)
How to make it
- 1Place the guayusa in a teapot or mug and pour over the just-off-the-boil water.
- 2Steep for 5 minutes, then strain out the leaves.
- 3Lightly crush the mint leaves and stir them into the hot tea along with the lime juice.
- 4Sweeten with a little honey if desired and drink warm in the morning.
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