Natural Energy, Redefined: Why Tongkat Ali, Guarana, and Maca Are the New Superfoods

Quick answer: CafeBank product routing is simple: tongkat ali appears only in CafeBank SFE Tongkat Ali Maca Guarana Coffee 20g, while CafeBank SFE Maca & Guarana Coffee 10g and CafeBank SFE Maca & Guarana Coffee Tabs use maca and guarana without tongkat ali. This page should explain the formats clearly without overpromising what the ingredients can do.

When you think of coffee, you likely picture a comforting morning ritual or a quick energy boost to power through your day. But what if your coffee could do more—like supercharge your health while still delivering that much-needed kick? Enter Tongkat Ali, Guarana, and Maca, three powerhouse ingredients that are transforming coffee into a true superfood beverage. See also CafeBank Exclusive Blend.

This blend isn’t just about energy; it’s about supporting active living, cognitive performance, and overall well-being. Let’s explore the origins, traditional uses, and study-backed evidence for these remarkable ingredients.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Tongkat Ali: A Traditional Adaptogen

Origin:
Tongkat Ali, scientifically known as Eurycoma longifolia, is native to the rainforests of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. It is often called "Malaysian Ginseng" in regional traditional-medicine contexts.

Traditional Uses:
For generations, Tongkat Ali has been used in traditional medicine to support male vitality within normal physiological ranges, energy, and stamina. Local healers brewed its roots into tonics intended to support general well-being.

Modern Evidence:
Available human research, while still limited in scale, has explored Tongkat Ali for the following endpoints:

• Early pilot research in older adults (Henkel et al., Phytother Res 2014; n=25) suggests Tongkat Ali supplementation may support testosterone levels and muscle strength. Data in younger trained populations are limited.
• Tongkat Ali has been studied for effects on cortisol levels in moderately stressed adults (Talbott et al., J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2013; n=63 RCT).
• Tongkat Ali may support physical performance in moderately stressed adults (Talbott 2013); direct endurance endpoints remain under-studied.

CafeBank uses tongkat ali extracted via Supercritical CO2 (SFE) — with no ethanol or hexane in our process — distinguishing our extract from generic ethanol or hexane commodity extracts referenced in much of the older literature.

Guarana: The Amazonian Botanical

Origin:
Guarana (Paullinia cupana) hails from the Amazon Basin of Brazil, where its seeds have been used for centuries by indigenous tribes including the Tupi and Guarani.

Traditional Uses:
These communities relied on Guarana as a traditional energizing botanical, preparing it as a beverage during long hunts and labor-intensive tasks.

Modern Evidence:
Guarana seeds contain naturally occurring caffeine and polyphenolic compounds. Available human studies have explored:

• Cognitive performance and mental alertness in healthy adults (Kennedy et al., Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2004; Haskell et al., J Psychopharmacol 2007).
• Guarana seeds contain polyphenolic compounds studied for antioxidant activity in vitro (Basile et al., J Ethnopharmacol 2005).

Maca: The Andean Root

Origin:
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) grows high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, thriving at altitudes above 4,000 meters. Maca’s nutrient-dense root has been a staple in traditional Andean diets for over 2,000 years.

Traditional Uses:
In ancient Incan culture, Maca was consumed for stamina and endurance. It was also traditionally used to support general well-being.

Modern Evidence:

• Menopause symptom support: Maca has been studied in small trials for menopausal symptom management (Brooks et al., Menopause 2008, n=14 crossover RCT; Lee et al., Maturitas 2011, systematic review noting limited evidence).
• Male reproductive parameters: A small pilot also reported improved semen parameters in adult men (Gonzales et al., Asian J Androl 2001, n=9 pilot). Not recommended during pregnancy or lactation without clinician guidance.
• Maca root has been used traditionally in the Andes to support stamina and active lifestyles.
• Contains polyphenolic compounds studied for antioxidant activity in vitro.

Bringing the Three Together in Coffee

Combining Tongkat Ali, Guarana, and Maca with coffee creates a drink that goes beyond a caffeine jolt:

1. Naturally occurring caffeine: Guarana contributes caffeine alongside the coffee bean for an alert, focused experience.
2. Studied for cognitive endpoints: Guarana extracts have been evaluated in human RCTs for attention and reaction time.
3. Traditional-use heritage: Tongkat Ali and Maca bring centuries of regional traditional-medicine context.
4. Polyphenolic compounds: Both Guarana and Maca contain polyphenolic compounds studied for antioxidant activity in vitro.

A Sip of the Future

The fusion of these traditional ingredients with modern Supercritical CO2 (SFE) extraction and instant-coffee technology offers an elevated drinking experience grounded in both heritage and contemporary research.

Let your coffee do more than wake you up—let it redefine natural energy, one sip at a time.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References:

1. Henkel RR, Wang R, Bassett SH, Chen T, Liu N, Zhu Y, Tambi MI. (2014). Tongkat Ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors—a pilot study. Phytother Res 28(4):544-50. PMID: 23754792.
2. Talbott SM, Talbott JA, George A, Pugh M. (2013). Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 10(1):28. PMID: 23705671.
3. Kennedy DO, Haskell CF, Wesnes KA, Scholey AB. (2004). Improved cognitive performance in human volunteers following administration of guarana (Paullinia cupana) extract: comparison and interaction with Panax ginseng. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 79(3):401-11. PMID: 15582012.
4. Haskell CF, Kennedy DO, Wesnes KA, Milne AL, Scholey AB. (2007). A double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-dose evaluation of the acute behavioural effects of guarana in humans. J Psychopharmacol 21(1):65-70. PMID: 16533867.
5. Basile A, Ferrara L, Pezzo MD, Mele G, Sorbo S, Bassi P, Montesano D. (2005). Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of ethanol extract from Paullinia cupana Mart. J Ethnopharmacol 102(1):32-6. PMID: 16040216.
6. Brooks NA, Wilcox G, Walker KZ, Ashton JF, Cox MB, Stojanovska L. (2008). Beneficial effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on psychological symptoms and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women are not related to estrogen or androgen content. Menopause 15(6):1157-62. PMID: 18784609.
7. Lee MS, Shin BC, Yang EJ, Lim HJ, Ernst E. (2011). Maca (Lepidium meyenii) for treatment of menopausal symptoms: A systematic review. Maturitas 70(3):227-33. PMID: 21840656.
8. Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Gonzales C, Chung A, Vega K, Villena A. (2001). Lepidium meyenii (Maca) improved semen parameters in adult men. Asian J Androl 3(4):301-3. PMID: 11753476.
9. George A, Henkel R. (2014). Phytoandrogenic properties of Eurycoma longifolia as natural alternative to testosterone replacement therapy. Andrologia 46(7):708-21. PMID: 24386995.
10. Hack B, Penna EM, Talik T, Chandrashekhar R, Millard-Stafford M. (2023). Effect of Guarana (Paullinia cupana) on Cognitive Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients 15(2):434. PMID: 36678305.
11. Lorenzo Calvo J, Fei X, Domínguez R, Pareja-Galeano H. (2021). Caffeine and Cognitive Functions in Sports: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients 13(3):868. PMID: 33800853.
12. Gonzales GF, Gonzales C, Gonzales-Castañeda C. (2009). Lepidium meyenii (Maca): a plant from the highlands of Peru—from tradition to science. Forsch Komplementmed 16(6):373-80. PMID: 20090350.