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Acidreamer
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Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea
#19316406 - 12/23/13 02:18 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Anyone else here had the pleasure of trying guayusa tea from the Ilex guayusa plant? It looks like this is about to be the next health food fad, much like acai. I'm seeing this tea cropping up at Whole Foods and independent health food stores around CA. A typical serving boasts as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and nearly 2x the antioxidants in green tea. The flavor is pretty mild and not bitter like black tea, for example, since guayusa doesn't have any tannins.
Soooo anyone had luck growing this plant?
Evergreen tree, 20–100ft tall, grows in USDA zones 9-13 but possibly as low as 7-8. Usually grown from cuttings; prefers high humidity.
Edited by Acidreamer (12/23/13 03:41 PM)
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KBG1977
Registered: 08/23/08
Posts: 11,017
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19316523 - 12/23/13 02:39 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Acidreamer said: Anyone else here had the pleasure of trying guayusa tea from the Ilex guayusa plant? It looks like this is about to be the next health food fad, much like acai. I'm seeing this tea cropping up at Whole Foods and independent health food stores around CA. A typical serving boasts as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and nearly 2x the antioxidants in green tea. The flavor is pretty mild and not bitter like black tea, for example, since guayusa doesn't have any tannins.
Soooo anyone had luck growing this plant? Does anyone have cuttings for that matter? 
Evergreen tree, 20–100ft tall, grows in USDA zones 9-13 but possibly as low as 7-8. Usually grown from cuttings; prefers high humidity.
Hook a sister up!
better edit your post my dear and I'm interested in this as well!
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hookahhead
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: KBG1977] 1
#19316630 - 12/23/13 03:07 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Aopocetx
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: hookahhead]
#19316688 - 12/23/13 03:21 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I live in Florida and this stuff grows everywhere. There's a few trees within walking distance from my backyard. They have the berries right now too. Is it worth trying?
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Acidreamer
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Aopocetx]
#19316768 - 12/23/13 03:43 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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All right, edited the first post. I definitely do NOT want any cuttings... 
Ohh OfflineAopocetx it's definitely worth it, you're lucky it's growing so close to your place. You could start your own guayusa farm. Try the tea!
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Acidreamer
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19316770 - 12/23/13 03:43 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I wonder how well this plant would do in CA outdoors? I'm in zone 10a... wonder if I'd need a greenhouse?
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ferrel_human
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19316928 - 12/23/13 04:19 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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This might he smething I kight want grow. Free caffeine you say.
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Acidreamer
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: ferrel_human]
#19316972 - 12/23/13 04:28 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Heeeell yeah, think of all the money you could save, plus it's awesome to grow your sustenance locally when possible
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HarryL
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19317239 - 12/23/13 05:15 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ilex guayusa
Interesting... One of three caffiene containing trees In the holly family
Make sure you have the right tree.... Sounds like this is Ecuador or Brazil tree
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Acidreamer
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: HarryL]
#19317318 - 12/23/13 05:29 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Yeah very interesting
I saw one site that sells cuttings but they're out of stock right now... it doesn't seem this plant is too popular - YET
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KingKnowledge
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19321046 - 12/24/13 12:49 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Acidreamer said: Anyone else here had the pleasure of trying guayusa tea from the Ilex guayusa plant? It looks like this is about to be the next health food fad, much like acai. I'm seeing this tea cropping up at Whole Foods and independent health food stores around CA. A typical serving boasts as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and nearly 2x the antioxidants in green tea. The flavor is pretty mild and not bitter like black tea, for example, since guayusa doesn't have any tannins.
Sadly I can't see this becoming a new health fad, I took this from wikipedia:
Ilex guayusa, which is used as an additive to some versions of Ayahuasca. According to the Ecuadorian indigenous, it is also slightly hallucinogenic on its own, when drunk in high enough quantities
"Hey mom, try this new tea from Whole Foods! *an hour later* "TOMMY!!!! WHAT DID YOU GIVE ME!?!?!?"
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intelligentlife
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: KingKnowledge]
#19321160 - 12/24/13 01:16 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I have used yerba mate for few months now daily basis..
..it's nice energy and mood booster
Assuming you're talking about same plant I have used..
I use this kind of cup to drink it

Cup is carved to woody old fruit and it's cool.
Edited by intelligentlife (12/24/13 01:20 PM)
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Acidreamer
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: KingKnowledge]
#19321168 - 12/24/13 01:18 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
KingKnowledge said: Sadly I can't see this becoming a new health fad, I took this from wikipedia:
Ilex guayusa, which is used as an additive to some versions of Ayahuasca. According to the Ecuadorian indigenous, it is also slightly hallucinogenic on its own, when drunk in high enough quantities
"Hey mom, try this new tea from Whole Foods! *an hour later* "TOMMY!!!! WHAT DID YOU GIVE ME!?!?!?"
HAHAHA that's so funny, I just stumbled upon that info last night. They sure don't advertise that on the prepackaged tea. No wonder I like it so much!
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Acidreamer
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19321179 - 12/24/13 01:20 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ohh yeah Onlineintelligentlife, if you have yerba mate that's a similar plant, Ilex paraguariensis. Similar effects though, I sure love me some mate as well!
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Dr. Siekadellyk
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19321223 - 12/24/13 01:30 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Really interested thanks for making me aware!
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KingKnowledge
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19321229 - 12/24/13 01:31 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Acidreamer said: HAHAHA that's so funny, I just stumbled upon that info last night. They sure don't advertise that on the prepackaged tea. No wonder I like it so much!
I saw its name on the wikipedia page "List of all psychoactive plants" and remembered you posted about it being sold in the US.
Let's wait til this info gets out....some kids are gonna start buying hundreds of boxes of it!
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Aopocetx
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19321835 - 12/24/13 03:37 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Acidreamer said: All right, edited the first post. I definitely do NOT want any cuttings... 
Ohh OfflineAopocetx it's definitely worth it, you're lucky it's growing so close to your place. You could start your own guayusa farm. Try the tea!
Okay I think I will. I've had the idea to try it since I realized what it was years ago. I'm gonna dry out the leaves and crush them. How much should I take? Like 2 teaspoons?
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Acidreamer
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Aopocetx]
#19322188 - 12/24/13 04:53 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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On the package of guayusa tea I have, it says 2g is a serving, so yeah probably around 2 tsp. Lemme know what you think
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Acidreamer
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19322239 - 12/24/13 05:13 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I found a couple sites selling guayusa leaf in bulk, and it works out to about 5 cents per 2g serving with equivalent caffeine content to coffee.
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karode13
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: intelligentlife]
#19322340 - 12/24/13 05:45 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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This plant isn't a hallucinogen. It contains lots of caffeine, excessive consumption results in caffeine overdose, a side effect is things moving in your vision.
Quote:
intelligentlife said: I have used yerba mate for few months now daily basis..
..it's nice energy and mood booster
Assuming you're talking about same plant I have used..
I use this kind of cup to drink it

Cup is carved to woody old fruit and it's cool.
The cup is called maté and the straw is called bombilla. I need to get one of these.
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KingKnowledge
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: karode13]
#19322756 - 12/24/13 07:32 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
karode13 said: This plant isn't a hallucinogen. It contains lots of caffeine, excessive consumption results in caffeine overdose, a side effect is things moving in your vision.
Quote:
intelligentlife said: I have used yerba mate for few months now daily basis..
..it's nice energy and mood booster
Assuming you're talking about same plant I have used..
I use this kind of cup to drink it

Cup is carved to woody old fruit and it's cool.
The cup is called maté and the straw is called bombilla. I need to get one of these.
I'm in South America now, i'm 100% bringing one home for myself. Just gotta find a good yerba source in the states.
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intelligentlife
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: KingKnowledge]
#19324405 - 12/25/13 04:37 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
KingKnowledge said:
Quote:
karode13 said: This plant isn't a hallucinogen. It contains lots of caffeine, excessive consumption results in caffeine overdose, a side effect is things moving in your vision.
Quote:
intelligentlife said: I have used yerba mate for few months now daily basis..
..it's nice energy and mood booster
Assuming you're talking about same plant I have used..
I use this kind of cup to drink it

Cup is carved to woody old fruit and it's cool.
The cup is called maté and the straw is called bombilla. I need to get one of these.
I'm in South America now, i'm 100% bringing one home for myself. Just gotta find a good yerba source in the states.
I buy'd that from south american company in europe.. Made in argentina..  Actually just drinking some right now. I have known only names for these in my language, I haven't find out what they're in english.. Anyway, very cool stuff.. Decoration or use for drinking yerba mate. ..the multi-colored ones was all sold, so I need to buy black one.. I didn't wanted ceramic so I obtained this.. It was need to be "make ready" before drink.. by let the yerba mate sit in the cup 3days before it can use used. then with bombilla it needed to be carved surface inside good or so.
Edited by intelligentlife (12/25/13 04:40 AM)
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nicechrisman
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19324431 - 12/25/13 05:00 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Probably depends what part of Cali you're in
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Acidreamer
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: nicechrisman]
#19325782 - 12/25/13 02:30 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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If that statement was directed at me, I'm in Nor Cal, nicechrismas.
@KingKnowledge - that's so awesome you're in South America right now! Are you traveling just for fun? I went to Argentina and Chile a few years ago, it was so beautiful.
@intelligentlife - Loving that gourd
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KingKnowledge
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19328780 - 12/26/13 12:59 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Acidreamer said: If that statement was directed at me, I'm in Nor Cal, nicechrismas.
@KingKnowledge - that's so awesome you're in South America right now! Are you traveling just for fun? I went to Argentina and Chile a few years ago, it was so beautiful.
@intelligentlife - Loving that gourd 
heya, sorry no interwebs for the past few days. I'm on a family vacation through a few countries, including the recently legalized Uruguay It's an awesome place, but its soooo hot. Humidity is off the charts, 90% today!
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Aopocetx
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: KingKnowledge]
#19329611 - 12/26/13 04:44 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Is this it or is this a different Ilex?
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Acidreamer
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Aopocetx]
#19329903 - 12/26/13 06:04 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Nice, Knowledge, that sounds like a rad vacation. Toking with the parents eh? 
Hmmm Aopocetx, I think that's another species, maybe Ilex paraguariensis, in which case you could still drink it. Guayusa leaves look much more shiny/glabrous. Maybe post an ID request?
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KingKnowledge
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19330016 - 12/26/13 06:31 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Acidreamer said: Nice, Knowledge, that sounds like a rad vacation. Toking with the parents eh? 
Dad's kinda a hippie
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Aopocetx
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19332127 - 12/27/13 08:36 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Acidreamer said: Nice, Knowledge, that sounds like a rad vacation. Toking with the parents eh? 
Hmmm Aopocetx, I think that's another species, maybe Ilex paraguariensis, in which case you could still drink it. Guayusa leaves look much more shiny/glabrous. Maybe post an ID request? 
Oh yeah it does look more like paraguariensis. That would be so awesome if it was mate. But yeah I'll post an ID request when I can use the computer with more pictures.
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lurkmode
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Aopocetx]
#19332560 - 12/27/13 11:02 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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guayusa is good stuff but I would not call it delicious.
imo, it doesn't taste that great. I usually throw a handful into my mate' which makes it bearable and really ups the caffeine content of the brew.
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Acidreamer
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: lurkmode]
#19334283 - 12/27/13 08:00 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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That'd be sweet, Aopocetx, free yerba mate. 
Hahaha lurkmode yeah the taste is a little 'different' but I bet it'd be great as kombucha, or better when served sweetened and chilled. I had some guayusa iced tea, that was pretty good.
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kykeion
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: Acidreamer]
#19388484 - 01/08/14 02:42 PM (10 years, 22 days ago) |
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I'm kinda with lurkmode on this one. Mate is much more palatable. Guayusa isn't terrible but I wouldn't call it delicious either. Of course everybody's tastes vary though. I'm curious to try Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), which is native to the southeastern US.
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lurkmode
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Re: Ilex guayusa - delicious tannin-free caffeinated tea [Re: kykeion]
#19392511 - 01/09/14 07:20 AM (10 years, 22 days ago) |
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yaupon tastes much, much better imho and I still haven't gotten the curing thing down.
ftr, you can get pretty jacked up on a couple glasses of guayusa.
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