BFT Drinks has created Yusa, the first drink in the UK to use the native Amazonian Guayusa leaf.

The new energy drink is made without tea extract or added caffeine and instead uses Guayusa as its main ingredient. Yusa is also made using carbonated water, mango and lemon fruit juices and natural flavours. The drink contains no added sugar or preservatives.

As the second most caffeinated plant in the world after coffee, Guayusa has recently been approved for food and beverage use in the UK. The plant contains twice as many antioxidants as green tea, providing clean, balanced and sustained energy.

Aimed at the health-aware consumer, Yusa aims to bridge the gap between health and energy drinks. Its natural mango and pineapple flavour is sweetened with stevia and contains less than 2.5g per 100ml, 100g of caffeine and 220mg of antioxidants per 250ml can (rrp £1.99).

Andy Bell, founder of BFT Drinks said: “Yusa, as an energy tea, is bringing a totally new kind of natural, soft drink to the UK market and will appeal to those consumers who are looking for a healthier alternative to traditional energy drinks, whether they’re at the gym, at work or on-the-go.

“In parts of the United States where Guayusa drinks have been on the market for five years, they are already outselling Red Bull 3:1 so we’re confident that Yusa will provide a real challenge to the energy drinks sector in the UK as people start to take more notice of the ingredients in their drinks.”

Yusa is available in cases of 12 and each can has an rrp of £1.99. Visit: www.yusadrinks.com

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