Matcha vs Guayusa: which tea is healthier and keeps you more alert?

Introduction

In this in-depth comparison of matcha and guayusa, we look at the key differences between these two stimulating teas and explain which one may suit different purposes. We’ll also consider whether green tea in the form of matcha, and guayusa, are as healthy as people claim, and whether either could be the healthiest tea in the world.

If you’ve never heard of guayusa or matcha, we also recommend our general guides, “What is guayusa tea?” and “What is matcha?”.

Contents

1. Matcha vs guayusa
   1. Origin
   2. Cultivation
   3. Processing
   4. Matcha vs guayusa: taste
   5. Compounds
   6. Effects
      1. L-theanine & caffeine
   7. Matcha vs guayusa: value for money
2. Which tea is healthier – matcha compared with guayusa
   1. Matcha
   2. Guayusa
   3. The healthiest tea: matcha vs guayusa
3. Conclusion

1. Matcha vs guayusa

In this comparison of matcha and guayusa, we’ll move from general points to more specific features. We’ll start with where they come from, then look at their compounds and effects, and consider whether green tea (matcha) and guayusa are healthy — and whether either is the healthiest tea in the world.

1.1. Origin

Matcha

Matcha is green tea powder. More precisely, matcha means “ground tea”. The first ground green tea was made in China, but the matcha tradition, using today’s production standards, developed in Japan and is only practised in that form there.

Countries such as China, Vietnam and Thailand also often produce “ground tea” and sell it as matcha. Strictly speaking, however, it is simply standard green tea that has been ground.

Guayusa

Unlike matcha, guayusa comes from Ecuador, where 99% of it is grown and consumed. Until 2009, the plant was unknown outside the Indigenous Kichwa people.

In recent years, it has become better known because of its remarkable effects. Guayusa grows only in the Amazon rainforest, where the climate it needs can be found.

1.2. Cultivation

Matcha

Like green tea, matcha is grown in so-called monocultures. As far as we know, matcha is not cultivated in any other way. By contrast, a small number of “wild teas” can be found among green teas. To produce matcha, however, the plants need a very particular growing method that can only be carried out in monocultures.

The green tea plants are covered with black nets for several weeks before harvest, shading them. This encourages them to produce more chlorophyll, amino acids, caffeine and various antioxidants. At the same time, the leaves grow larger, thinner and therefore softer.

Guayusa

In the matcha vs guayusa comparison, guayusa comes out considerably better when it comes to cultivation. Guayusa plants are grown exclusively in so-called permacultures. These are mixed-crop systems in which dozens or even hundreds of useful plants are combined to create a self-sustaining ecosystem.

Because guayusa is grown in Ecuador’s Amazon region, this type of cultivation is essential; otherwise, rainforest would have to be cleared to grow a single crop. There are three possible approaches:

1. Growing the plants in areas where the Kichwa would otherwise not intervene. These are usually unused areas around so-called forest gardens.
2. Growing them in ancient forest gardens. These are permaculture plots in or on the edge of the rainforest. They contain hundreds of different useful plants that imitate the rainforest, but are planted in an organised way so they protect one another from parasites, fungi and mould. Plants are also grown to provide habitats for animals and insects.
3. Reforesting cleared land. Many plots, for example, were cleared for livestock and have been left unused for years or even decades. Our reforestation programme turns these areas into forest gardens.

1.3. Processing

Matcha

Processing matcha is much more complex than processing guayusa. After the plants have been shaded for weeks, only the youngest, greenest and freshest leaves are harvested.

The leaves are then treated immediately with steam and hot air to stop oxidation and dry them as quickly as possible. After this process, the best leaves are selected by hand and their stems are removed.

Only after these steps are the so-called tencha leaves ground in stone mills.

Guayusa

With guayusa, by contrast, 90% of a tree’s leaves are harvested. Since the climate in the Amazon stays much the same, the trees grow a full covering of leaves again within 2 to 4 months.

After harvesting, the leaves are either oxidised for a few days (as with our Guayusa DARK) or dried with hot air straight away, as with matcha (Guayusa PURE).

The leaves are then chopped and packaged.

You can watch our short documentary about the matcha harvest and processing here:

1.4. Matcha vs guayusa: taste

The two flavours could hardly be more different. It is striking how many different caffeinated stimulants nature has produced. Whether we have really discovered them all remains to be seen — guayusa itself only came to light in 2009.

Matcha

When comparing the taste of matcha and guayusa, it comes down entirely to personal preference. As we know, taste is subjective.

Matcha tastes slightly different depending on its grade, preparation and origin. Find out more in our article about the flavour of matcha.

Matcha’s flavour profile can be described as follows:

• A grassy and vegetal flavour when the matcha comes from Japan. If it comes from China, it has an additional, slightly nutty aroma.
• Umami is one of the five basic tastes. It is prominent in matcha and brings fish, seaweed and savoury soups to mind.
• Shading gives matcha a slight sweetness.
• Most people find matcha bitter, although it is much milder than ordinary green tea.
• Creaminess is not exactly a flavour, but it is part of the tasting experience and comes from whisking the powder properly.

Guayusa

As mentioned, tastes vary. But among our customers, we’ve found that many find guayusa’s flavour much more pleasant than matcha’s.

This is mainly because guayusa

• does not taste bitter, even after long steeping,
• has a flavour similar to herbal tea,
• also has a slightly sweet note,
• has a slightly tart, earthy taste in PURE, and
• has a strong caramel note in DARK.

1.5. Compounds

We also have a separate article that takes a much closer look at the compounds in matcha and guayusa.

Matcha

The following are the main compounds in matcha tea.

1. Caffeine 1.9% to 4.4%
2. L-theanine
3. Antioxidants

Matcha has a higher caffeine content than ordinary green tea, but not as high as many people assume. The antioxidants in matcha and green tea have been extensively studied. There are many studies on their effects. The best-known include:

1. Catechin
   1. EGCG, ECG, EGC
2. Rutin
3. Quercetin
4. Chlorophyll
5. Phenols and phenolic acids
6. Vitamin C

We’ll look at the effects of these compounds later in our matcha vs guayusa comparison. Matcha’s total antioxidant content is between 120,000 and 180,000 Trolox.

Guayusa

Guayusa’s compounds have been studied far less than matcha’s. The main known active compounds are:

1. Caffeine 3.2% to 7.6%
2. L-theanine
3. Theobromine
4. Theophylline
5. Antioxidants

Guayusa tea is therefore the most caffeinated drink in the world.

Matcha and guayusa have roughly the same amount of antioxidants. Guayusa’s ORAC value is between 120,000 and 160,000. Find out what antioxidants are and how matcha and guayusa compare with coffee, mate and guarana in our antioxidant comparison.

The following antioxidants have primarily been studied in guayusa:

1. Chlorogenic acids
2. Vitamin C
3. Vitamin D
4. Phenolic acids
5. Carotenoids
6. Lution

1.6. Effects

We also have separate articles on the effects of matcha and guayusa without comparing them, with much more detail on each one.

Before looking at how they work and whether green tea (matcha) or guayusa is healthy — and which is the healthiest tea — we’ll consider the general effects of caffeine and L-theanine. Both compounds are found in matcha and guayusa. You can find out more about each compound in the linked articles.

L-theanine & caffeine

L-theanine is a rare amino acid that can cross the blood–brain barrier and act there. So far, however, it has only been found in green tea, guayusa and one mushroom.

The combination of L-theanine and caffeine has been found to significantly improve cognitive performance and lift mood.

Matcha

Matcha’s effects are attributed mainly to its antioxidants, and less to caffeine and L-theanine. According to studies, the antioxidants have a particularly pronounced effect.

Matcha is therefore studied mainly for its health properties. Based on the current research, matcha is considered particularly healthy compared with other green teas and guayusa.

The effects focus on the following properties:

• Fighting free radicals
• Inhibiting and reducing inflammation
• Regulating insulin
• Protecting nerve cells
• Improving metabolism

Even so, matcha is stimulating and, according to studies, supports cognitive abilities. Compared with guayusa, however, matcha has a much stronger effect on the cardiovascular system. This is why you should not drink too much matcha: as with coffee, mate and guarana, it can cause heart palpitations, shakiness and feeling unwell due to racing thoughts, and even stomach problems can occur.

Guayusa

Guayusa’s effects are also attributed to antioxidants, although less strongly than matcha’s. Rather, its effects come from a combination of performance-enhancing compounds.

Guayusa’s effects can best be described as follows:

• Long-lasting alertness without a sudden crash
• Increased motivation
• Improved cognitive abilities, particularly
  • focus and concentration
  • alertness
  • memory
  • reaction time
• Reduced stress through the natural stimulation of alpha waves in the brain
• Improved physical endurance and strength
• Waking up faster through greater absorption of blue light

Anyone who has tried guayusa will know the effect of being able to concentrate for hours. In our matcha vs guayusa comparison, this is one of the most striking differences.

1.7. Matcha vs guayusa: value for money

We sometimes receive negative comments about the price of guayusa tea on social media. At €9.90 per 100 g, guayusa certainly is not a cheap supermarket teabag, but nor is it expensive compared with matcha or good green tea.

Good matcha costs €25 to €30 or more per 30 g — around three times more than guayusa tea. If you want or need to stay alert and focused every day, or perform well during sport, choosing matcha can leave a big dent in your wallet without delivering the effect you want.

With guayusa, by contrast, even at a particularly high intake of 1 l to 2 l a day, 200g a month is enough. With our bundle discounts, that works out at just 43 cents a day for around 2 litres of guayusa. For 90% of our customers, though, 1 litre is enough for an eight-hour working day. That works out at just 21.5 cents a day.

2. Which tea is healthier — matcha compared with guayusa

We hope we’ve given you a thorough overview so far and that you’ve learnt a lot about the compounds and effects of matcha and guayusa in this comparison.

In the final section, we’ll consider whether matcha, a type of green tea, and guayusa are healthy — and whether either of them might be considered the healthiest tea.

2.1. Matcha

As a top-quality green tea, matcha is also considered particularly healthy. Its special cultivation and selection during processing result in a product with a very high antioxidant content, and studies have repeatedly demonstrated its effectiveness.

2.2. Guayusa

Guayusa has a similarly high antioxidant content, though the compounds differ. The chlorogenic acids in guayusa are also said to regulate insulin levels, reduce weight gain, help prevent fatty liver, help reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system and have a positive effect on the nervous system and its function.

There are considerably more studies on matcha than on guayusa at present. Given how recently guayusa has become known, that is naturally nothing surprising or negative.

2.3. The healthiest tea: matcha vs guayusa

So, which is the healthiest tea? Based on our research, guayusa has to give way to matcha here and, admittedly, take second place because there are so many more studies on matcha.

The difference in health benefits between matcha and guayusa nevertheless seems minimal.

3. Conclusion

Our matcha vs guayusa comparison has highlighted some major differences, which naturally arise from the plants’ different species, origins and cultivation methods, but are not widely known.

Perhaps you had never even heard of guayusa tea before?!

Based on the facts we’ve presented about matcha and guayusa, we think neither tea is inferior to the other. Which one is better suited to you depends on what you need.

If you’d like to spend a few quiet minutes preparing matcha in silence and are mainly looking for a health boost, then matcha is the better choice.

If you want a day full of focus, concentration and alertness without side effects, or an extra energy boost for sport, then guayusa is much better suited.

If this article has made you curious about guayusa, you can always order from our shop and get 5% off by entering the discount code “Blog-5” at the final step of checkout. To save even more, sign up for our newsletter, where we regularly share interesting topics and special offers.