Those who know me probably would not describe me as a world traveler. The only study abroad I participated in during college was in New York City…a short 25 minute train ride from campus. Aside from a trip to Italy and some random Caribbean and Mexican getaways, I’ve spent most of my life here in the good old US of A. I do, however, like to explore the world through plants.
You may remember from this post that the South Pacific ritual of drinking kava has made its way into our Virginia home. On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve recently taken a liking to Amazonian guayusa. Since parting ways with coffee after back to back to back pregnancies, I usually rely on raw cacao or matcha green tea for a buzz. Guayusa contains the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee and also theobromine (found in raw cacao) and l-theanine (found in matcha). Both of these substances promote calm focus and reduce the likelihood of caffeine jitters. Lacking the tannins that make tea and coffee bitter, guayusa also has a pleasant taste. Whether you are looking for a substitute for coffee, or just want to have options, follow the cold brewing instructions below:
Ingredients:
-Loose leaf guayusa tea (you can find it online, Runa is a good brand)
-French press
To Brew:
-Scoop 2 tablespoons leaves for each serving into french press and fill with water.
-Leave in refrigerator overnight.
-Stir and plunge in the morning and heat up or enjoy cold!
For more plant based ideas head over to the Joyful Gym Rat page on Facebook!
Photo credit http://www.wisegeek.com/
Comments