Guayusa

Guayusa (pronounced why-you-sah) is the traditional beverage of the Kichwa people of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Families gather together at dawn to drink Guayusa and to learn ancestral myths and tribal traditions.
Guayusa is shade-grown under the canopy of the rainforest by Kichwa farmers. Guayusa needs a diverse ecological habitat, including old trees to grow, so its cultivation creates economic incentive for farmers to protect and re-grow rainforest habitats, and brings fair wages to the local economy.

Guayusa is high in caffeine, but very low on tannins. It is said to be gentle on the stomach, providing an energy boost with no jitters or crash. It also contains twice the amount of antioxidants found in green tea.