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From the Kichwa Chakras to the World

Founded in 2015, Waykana works with more than 100 Kichwa farming families in Napo and Orellana, growing guayusa in regenerative agroforestry chakras and processing every leaf within 48 hours at our plant in Tena, Ecuador.

“Waykana” is a Kichwa word meaning “to bring people together”. We connect ancestral knowledge with modern science — and Amazonian communities with global markets.

Traceable to Farm Origin
0%
Certified Organic Supply
0%
Share of Production Exported
0%

From a Living Room to the World

Our journey began in 2015 with a series of trips deep into the Ecuadorian Amazon — and a conviction that guayusa deserved a place on the world stage. Today we are among the largest guayusa suppliers in the world.

Founded by Demetrio Santander and Juan David Gómez after discovering guayusa deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Launched the GUAYUSA energy drink and earned Entrepreneur of the Year at Ecuador’s Ei Awards.
Became the first Ecuadorian SME to list shares on the Quito Stock Exchange, exporting to 20+ countries.
Partnered with Grupo Danec to scale GUAYUSA drinks — focusing Waykana on premium B2B ingredients.

The People Behind the Leaf

From Kichwa farming families to our processing team in Tena, Waykana is built by people who love the Amazon and believe in its future.

Juan David Gómez

Co-Founder & CEO

Demetrio Santander

Co-Founder & President

Kichwa Farming Families

The Heart of Waykana

Stories from the Amazon

Insights on guayusa, functional ingredients, regenerative sourcing and product innovation.

Guayusa vs Coffee, Matcha and Yerba Mate: An Honest Comparison

Guayusa vs Coffee, Matcha and Yerba Mate: An Honest Comparison

Same energy, different experience. How the Amazonian leaf compares with…

From Chakra to Cup: How Guayusa Is Grown and Processed in 48 Hours

From Chakra to Cup: How Guayusa Is Grown and Processed in 48 Hours

No plantations, no monoculture: guayusa grows in biodiverse Amazonian chakras…

The Wayusa Upina: Ecuador’s Pre-Dawn Tea Ritual

The Wayusa Upina: Ecuador’s Pre-Dawn Tea Ritual

Long before sunrise, Kichwa families gather around the fire to…