After years of reviewing research papers and attending lectures on topics related to Guava Leaf Extract, I thought it was time to do some field research. I knew that West L.A. is often a hotbed for new trends, so I headed west. My goal: to connect with trend makers in Southern California who already know about Guava Leaves and to uncover where interest in this herb is most likely to gain momentum.
I reside in Las Vegas, only a four-hour drive to L.A., so this was a relatively easy trip to plan. Upon my arrival in West Hollywood, I was struck by the number of tea shops and holistic-health stores. This seemed a likely area to find people using guava leaves.
Before beginning my search, I first settled into my home for the week, Le Montrose Suite Hotel, near the famous Sunset Strip. This lovely modern boutique hotel is tucked away in a quiet West Hollywood neighborhood. I chatted with the smiling front desk workers, and asked whether they had ever heard of anybody using guava leaf – they hadn’t. I explained my mission for the week: to track down any and all uses of guava leaf by anyone in the Los Angeles area. Immediately, one of the desk guys presented me with my first lead: the Bodhi Tree Bookstore, which has a small herb store in the back. This popular holistic store was just a few blocks away. I thanked him, and the hunt was on.
I went immediately to Bodhi Tree, and asked the tall, thin bespectacled employee if he had ever heard of anyone using guava leaves. He hadn’t. He provided me with a list, though, of homeopathic pharmacies and herb stores in the area. Score! I started going through the list, plugging each new address into my GPS, driving from destination to destination. Surely I would find someone who would have helpful information along the way.
By the end of day two, I still hadn’t found any place that carried guava leaf extract, tea or any other derivative. Trying not to be disappointed, I continued my search. I had spoken with homeopathic pharmacists and herb store owners (a few of the herb stores I wandered into only specialized in one kind of herb – not the kind I was looking for). All agreed that there was science behind guava leaf, but they didn’t know of anyone who sold it. Sadly, it felt as though my hot pursuit to find guava leaf in West Hollywood was growing cold.
Guava Leaf, L.A., Trip
