The song “Food into Energy” by StoryBots educates kids that “your tummy is like a gas tank that you fill up when you want to get going.” For some consumers, however, everyday food and drink might not be enough for that energetic jolt. To supplement this need state, natural solutions like guayusa are providing the sustained energy consumers desire with a healthy halo.
“Guayusa has a natural makeup that is pretty unique and very attractive for beverage formulas,” says Brian Zapp, creative director for Applied Food Sciences, Austin, Texas. “The active compounds that we target are naturally occurring caffeine and antioxidants in the form of chlorogenic acids. The most similar comparison for guayusa is its cousin-plant yerba maté. However, guayusa contains 20 percent more polyphenol antioxidants, double the caffeine, and 70 percent less bitter tannins than yerba maté, making it one of the most functional and flavor-friendly ingredients for beverage applications.”