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Palo azul means "blue wood" in Spanish, and it gets its name because the wood of the tree is brewed in water to prepare a blue tea. This happens because palo azul is fluorescent, so it turns blue when it absorbs light and it looks incredible!
Studies (1, 2, 3) show that palo azul's fluorescence is caused by flavonoids, which are polyphenols that plants produce to defend themselves from stress, UV light, and pathogens. These polyphenols are also what make palo azul tea antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, so this tea has been used as a traditional remedy since the 1500s in Central America.
Due to its polyphenol rich content, palo azul has similar beneficial properties as green tea, without the caffeine...so you can enjoy this beautiful view any time of the day!
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There are over 40 studies on palo azul which show that it is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, alkaline, anti-microbial, diuretic, liver-protective, renoprotective, and more. Therefore, the studies have concluded that palo azul may help to promote kidney and liver function.
Palo azul has been used as a natural remedy in Mexico for over 500 years to promote kidney and liver health, which is why it's also known as "kidneywood".
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8x More Antioxidants: According to studies, palo azul has around 8x more polyphenols (antioxidants) than green, black, yellow, and other herbal teas.
0 Caffeine: Palo azul is also caffeine-free, as opposed to green tea or black tea which have around 25-50 mg caffeine per cup.
0 Oxalates: Palo azul has 0 oxalates, which are anti-nutrients that can cause inflammation and bind with calcium to form calcium oxalate crystals (kidney stones). Green & black tea have around 4-16 mg/cup and several sources (1, 2) recommend limiting oxalates to 50 mg per day.
Alkaline: Studies show that palo azul has minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium, which make it alkaline, as opposed to black tea, fruit teas, and some herbal teas which are slightly acidic. Studies show that palo azul has an “alkalinizing nature”, “it decreases the acidity of urine" and "dissolves acidic precipitants (kidney stones)".
Potassium-saving diuretic: A study showed that palo azul is a potassium-sparing diuretic, meaning that it flushes out toxins without electrolyte loss because it spares potassium. As opposed to regular diuretics like coffee and green tea which flush out electrolytes.
Not Bitter: Many of our customers say that they usually need to add sugar to their teas, but there's no need with palo azul because it has a subtle sweetness and it's not bitter.
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Antioxidant & Anti-inflammatory: Numerous studies (1, 2, 3, 4) have found that palo azul has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, therefore it was shown to be effective at neutralizing harmful toxins such as AGEs (advanced glycation end products), ROS (reactive oxygen species), free radicals, lipid peroxides, and heavy metals.
Metal-chelating: Several studies (1, 2, 3, 4) also showed that it has “metal-chelating” abilities, meaning that it binds to toxic heavy metals in the body and helps to flush them out.
Potassium-sparing diuretic: Several studies (1, 2, 3) also showed that palo azul is a potassium-sparing diuretic, meaning that it can help to flush out toxins without dehydrating your body.
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According to the results from various studies, palo azul’s polyphenolic content ranges from around 2 to 8 times higher than regular teas and 4 times higher than spirulina. Palo azul’s antioxidant capacity was shown to be around 8 to 26 times higher than regular teas and spirulina.
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Boosts Glutathione: Several studies (1, 2, 3) showed that palo azul increased the body's endogenous antioxidants (glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase), and many studies mention that these are critical for proper immune function.
Antibacterial: These studies (1, 2, 3) showed that palo azul tea is rich in flavonoids which are anti-bacterial and it's effective against bacteria which are associated with various infections.
Antipyretic & Antitussive: Lastly, several studies (1, 2, 3, 4) mention that palo azul is used as an antipyretic or an antitussive, which are agents that help to reduce a fever or cough.
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Studies (1, 2, 3) found that palo azul has electrolytes such as magnesium, potassium calcium, and sodium, which make it alkaline. Another source mentions that palo azul has an "alkalinizing nature in the body". Therefore, studies showed that palo azul "decreases the acidity of urine" and "dissolves acidic precipitants (kidney stones)".
However, if palo azul is prepared with acidic water, it may not alkalinize the water enough to raise the pH above 7. When it is prepared with alkaline water, it will stay alkaline, as opposed to black tea, fruit teas, or hibiscus which are slightly acidic and will lower the pH of the water.
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Palo azul tea is caffeine-free, so it's great for detoxing later in the day if you consume processed foods or alcohol because it inhibits oxidative stress, inflammation, & lipid peroxidation.
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This 2018 study showed that palo azul tea’s antioxidants act quickly as they’re ingested and then they’re slowly released for at least 70 hours!
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- Boil 1 teaspoon of palo azul (2g) in alkaline water for 2 minutes, then let it steep for 5-10 minutes.
- Spring water is ideal because it's naturally alkaline. Acidic water won't turn blue!
- Once it cools down, strain out the palo azul and enjoy hot or cold. Refrigerate any remaining tea.
- Pour the tea in a glass cup, then take it outside so it can absorb sunlight and enjoy the magic!
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Traditionally, it’s recommended to drink around 1-3 cups of palo azul tea daily (1, 2), but it has 0 caffeine and 0 sugar so you can drink more if you’d like. The best time to drink palo azul tea, is when you consume processed foods or alcohol, because studies show that palo azul inhibits inflammation, oxidative stress, free radicals, and lipid peroxidation.
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Palo azul is caffeine-free so you can enjoy it at any time of the day. The best time to drink palo azul tea is whenever you consume processed foods or alcohol, because studies show that it inhibits inflammation, oxidative stress, free radicals, and lipid peroxidation. That's why studies conclude that palo azul is kidney-protective and liver-protective.
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Customers usually describe palo azul's flavor as earthy, smooth, slightly sweet, refreshing, clean, bright, and not bitter. A lot of people are surprised by how good palo azul tastes by itself because it has a subtle sweetness, it's not too earthy or bitter, and it's 0 sugar & 0 calories. This is why it's also known as palo dulce (sweet wood).
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Palo azul has 0 calories and 0 sugar so it won't break your fast. This 2020 study actually shows that palo azul increases AMPK, which is the same pathway that fasting increases.
"Intermittent fasting (IF) extends life span via pleotropic mechanisms, but one important molecular mediator is (AMPK). AMPK enhances lipid metabolism."
"AMPK exerted its ability to regulate lipid metabolism by enhancing fatty acid oxidation and autophagy, while inhibiting the production of cholesterol and fatty acids."
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There are over 40 clinical studies on palo azul tea and no negative side effects have been reported. Multiple studies have shown that it is non-toxic (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
The only side effect would be that palo azul is diuretic, so it will increase urination just like green tea or coffee which are also diuretic...but palo azul is a potassium-sparing diuretic, meaning that it helps you flush out toxins while retaining your electrolytes.
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Yes, microwaving a few palo azul chips in a cup is a convenient and easy way to make a quick cup of palo azul tea. It shouldn't affect the benefits any more than it would affect those of other teas.
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If you over-boil the palo azul, it might denature the polyphenols and it won’t look blue because the polyphenols are the nutrients that make it blue. This is why you should simmer on low heat as soon as it reaches a boil. The reason we recommend boiling it, is because the higher heat is necessary to open up the pores of the wood and extract the nutrients into the tea.
Interestingly, a 2018 study actually found that boiled leaves “have shown greater levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity compared with fresh leaves.” The authors suggest that this is due to the breakdown of complex polyphenols which liberates more polyphenols.
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Of course! Palo azul is caffeine-free, which makes it safe for kids because it's generally recommended that kids should limit their caffeine intake.
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Yes. Studies (1, 2) show that palo azul has essential electrolytes such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium which are great for hydration. Palo azul is also reno-protective & liver-protective, because it helps to inhibit inflammation, free radicals, and oxidative stress, so your kidneys & liver will thank you!
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Questions about any and all dietary choices while pregnant should always be discussed with your physician. If you're comfortable drinking other teas, then palo azul should be fine since it is caffeine-free and it is generally recommended to limit caffeine intake during pregnancy.
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A 2021 study on palo azul found that “above 95% of the original amounts of flavanones (antioxidants) remained in the solution after 5 days storage" and it "showed great short-term stability."
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Palo azul turns blue in the light because it is fluorescent, and studies (1, 2, 3) show that it’s fluorescent because it contains phytonutrients (polyphenols & flavonoids). These are fluorescent nutrients which plants produce to protect themselves from oxidative stress, inflammation, bacteria, pathogens and harmful UV light. So what makes palo azul tea blue is also what makes it antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and more.
Many plants have flavonoids, but only a few plants evolved the unique ability of fluorescence to defend themselves from harmful UV light by absorbing high energy light and emitting a lower energy harmless light. So plants use polyphenols as a shield, and when we consume their shield, it helps us defend ourselves. Fluorescence occurs naturally in plants, flowers, minerals and animals. It just so happens that palo azul is the only plant that produces a fluorescent tea.
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There are no artificial ingredients or processing in our products and the only ingredient is "organic palo azul". Palo azul’s blue color is caused by naturally occurring fluorescent phytonutrients in the palo azul plant which are called “polyphenols”. These fluorescent nutrients are also what make palo azul tea antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, etc...so the blue color is what makes it healthy!
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- Palo azul’s blue color is caused by fluorescent nutrients, which means that it has to absorb high energy light in order to turn blue. Try pouring it in a glass cup and take it outside so it can absorb sunlight or shine a flashlight on it.
- Palo azul only turns blue in an alkaline solution (1, 2, 3), so if it still doesn't turn blue, then the water you used is probably acidic.
- Boiling the water too much can slightly lower the alkalinity, so it's possible that you may have boiled the water too much.
- If the tea looks yellowish or lightly colored, it's not concentrated enough so you probably didn't use enough palo azul.
- Sometimes the problem is the container that it is being brewed in. Try cold brewing it in a glass cup and if it doesn’t turn blue at all, then the water is most likely below 7 pH because palo azul’s fluorescent nutrients are only activated in an alkaline solution.
- The palo azul you used may have had a low polyphenol concentration, and these are the nutrients that make palo azul fluorescent. We source our palo azul from a USDA Organic certified supplier and all our product is tested for optimal quality so it will always look blue and magical!
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The magic in palo azul is that it has fluorescent polyphenols which give this incredible blue color. Many studies show that these fluorescent polyphenols are also what make palo azul a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, they're what make it blue and healthy. There are many fluorescent plants, but as far as we know, palo azul is the only one that produces a fluorescent tea!
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USDA Organic: Magiktea is the first and only 100% USDA Organic Certified palo azul on the market.
Sustainably Sourced: We're also Wildlife Friendly Certified and we source our palo azul from a natural reserve which is enrolled in Mexico's Natural Protected Areas Program (CONANP) so it's sustainably sourced.
Biodegradable Tea Bags: We offer palo azul in plant-based & biodegradable tea bags, making it a convenient and eco-friendly choice.
Finely Cut Loose Tea: Other palo azul brands typically sell big chunks of wood which makes it harder to brew a single cup. We used to sell bigger pieces as well because palo azul is a hard wood and it requires manual labor and expensive machinery to cut it. We decided to do it anyway because this is the best way to extract the nutrients due to the increased surface area, so you get much stronger tea.
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Our palo azul trees have been growing naturally from seeds for decades, so the roots go deep into the earth and that’s where all the nutrients and trace minerals come from. They hold ancient nutrition that is the culmination of centuries of evolution from Mother Earth. Deeper roots extract more nutrients and organic practices allow the trees to overcome stress, which helps them become more resilient and develop centuries of nutrition
In non-organic farming, most trees are not grown from seeds and instead, they’re propagated using branches. This causes the roots to grow sidewards and the plants have to compete for topsoil, so they require pesticides to kill the competition. This depletes the topsoil and it leaves the plants dependent on synthetic fertilizers.
This leads to weak plants with no defense mechanisms, and it is well known that stressed plants are more nutrient dense because of the principle of xenohormesis. At our palo azul ranch, there’s no human intervention until harvest. The trees grow symbiotically with all its surroundings and when organisms die, they decompose and enrich the earth so that new life can blossom. Just the way nature intended.
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The palo azul tree (Eysenhardtia polystachya) grows in dry locations in Arizona, Texas and Mexico. We source our palo azul from a 12,000-acre natural reserve in Mexico that is USDA Organic & Wildlife Friendly Certified.
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Yes, we source our palo azul from a USDA Organic certified supplier, so all our palo azul is 100% organic. This means that our palo azul is free from pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, heavy metals and GMOs...so every cup of Magiktea is good for you, the farmers, and the planet!
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Yes, we source all our palo azul from a 12,000-acre natural reserve that USDA Organic & Wildlife Friendly Certified and they're enrolled in Mexico's Program for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), so we're committed to the conservation of all species in the region. We harvest sustainably by pruning the branches, which encourages the tree to grow even bigger and it adds more life to the land, so everyone can enjoy nature’s magic!
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Plant-Based Tea Bags
Our biodegradable plant-based tea bags are made with 100% bio-mesh from corn starch, so they're free from microplastics and bleach, making them better for you and the environment.
Finely Cut Loose Tea
Our loose tea is finely cut, but it is not a powder. This is the best way to extract the nutrients due to the increased surface area, so you get a richer, healthier, and more flavorful tea. Loose palo azul may require a strainer, but this is the way to squeeze out all the magic and fully honor this plant.
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Our pyramid tea bags are made from a 100% biodegradable bio-mesh, which is a type of mesh made from PLA (Polylactic acid) that is derived from corn starch. This means that there are no microplastics, bleach, or other toxins, so they're better for our health and the environment.
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Palo azul tea has actually been consumed since the 1500s by the native people in Mexico. It's commonly used in Mexico for promoting kidney health, so it's also known as "kidneywood". We started Magiktea in 2022 and now it's our mission to share palo azul so that everyone can enjoy the magic! 😃
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Online: You can buy organic palo azul on our Shop Page, Amazon, TikTok, or you can check out our Store Locator.
Retailers: Erewhon, Bristol Farms, Lassens, Lazy Acres, Clark's Nutrition, Earth Origins, Chamberlins, Fruitful Yield, Better Health Market.
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The fluorescent blue nutrients (polyphenols) are only found in the palo azul wood, so that's why the leaves aren't used, because studies show that the polyphenols are what make it antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, liver-protective, renoprotective, and more.
Palo azul is similar to pau d'arco, rooibos, ashwagandha, St. John's wort, sassafras and mauby tea, which are also made with the wood, bark, or root of the plant instead of the leaves. We know that making tea with wood is different, but it's good to be different!
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Palo azul and palo santo are both called “palo” because it means "wood" or "stick" in Spanish and they’re both used in the wood form, but palo azul is used to make tea, whereas palo santo is used for aromatherapy. They also belong to different species. Palo azul’s scientific name is Eysenhardtia polystachya and it belongs to the Fabaceae family. Palo santo’s scientific name is Bursera graveolens and it belongs to the Burseraceae family.
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The butterfly pea plant actually belongs to the same botanical family (Fabaceae) as palo azul, but they’re different plants. Although they're both blue, palo azul's blue color is caused by the phenomenon of fluorescence, so it’s not just blue…it actually emits blue light!
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Fortunately, palo azul won't make your pee, teeth, or anything in your body blue. Palo azul's blue fluorescence dissapears in an acidic solution, and our saliva and stomach are acidic... so the blue color would dissapear as soon as palo azul tea enters your body.