The origins of our guayusa

The Guayusa used as a base for Nightwatch comes from the town Archidona in Ecuador.

Archidona is a colonial town, founded in 1560, north of Tena in the Napo Province. Archidona serves as a business and social center for the small Quichua communities in the vicinity.

Located in the north-central part of the Amazon Region on an extensive plain, flanked by the eastern mountain range of the Andes, on the left bank of the Misahuallí River, and at an altitude of 577 meters above sea level with a rainy climate Tropical of 24 ° C on average, Napo is the main habitat for the most appreciated strain of Guayusa used to brew Nightwatch.

For the Amazonian Quichua tribe, guayusa is a sacred leaf. At dawn, infusions are prepared to drink in traditional family rituals and to help focus on and interpret dreams. It provides them with energy to start the day afresh. Pretty much like our morning rituals when we drink coffee.

A substantial portion of humanity uses a xanthine rich plant based drink to energize on a daily basis. Coffee, Tea, Guayusa, Cacao, Guarana and Mate are most widely used. It is the molecular makeup of Ilex guayusa that makes it the most interesting source in our humble opinion.

The Ilex guayusa plant is a tall and branched aromatic plant whose leaves reach 15 cm in length, these leaves have a high concentration of caffeine and other xanthines, are rich in beneficial compounds, antioxidants and phenolics and are a lush dark green in colour. From the leaf of this plant cultivated since Inca cilvilizations the natives obtain the infusion they drink every morning in a family ritual before starting their agricultural, fishing and community work