Yerba mate is a traditional South American drink made from the dried leaves of the yerba mate tree. It’s known for its many health benefits. Yerba mate contains caffeine, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It’s said to provide energy, mental clarity, and overall wellbeing.
Yerba mate is found growing wild and is also cultivated on plantations. It has a long history of traditional use in South America, where drinking yerba mate is often a social event. It was called "the drink of the gods" by indigenous South Americans and "the green gold of the Indios" by European settlers.
When preparing yerba mate, the dried leaves are steeped in hot (not boiling) water. It can be drunk cold as well. Yerba mate has a robust, earthy flavor that some compare to grass or tobacco. It may take some getting used to, but many come to enjoy and appreciate it.
Moderate consumption of yerba mate is considered safe and healthy. But drinking very large amounts (over 12 cups per day) may cause side effects like headache, nausea, and irregular heartbeat. As with other caffeinated drinks, it’s best not to overdo it.
Yerba mate is a plant found in South America. Its leaves are brewed into a stimulating, caffeinated drink called mate. Mate is a popular beverage across South America, where it is often shared among friends from a hollow gourd using a metal straw. This tradition brings people together into a tight-knit community. Mate provides an energy boost similar to coffee with additional nutrients. It originated from indigenous cultures in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil. Argentina has the highest consumption per capita, with the average person drinking 5kg per year. Argentinians commonly drink mate in the mornings and evenings, either hot or cold. Sharing mate has tremendous social and cultural importance in Argentina beyond being just a beverage.
The popular Guayaki Yerba Mate energy drink contains 150 mg of caffeine per 16 oz can. This is a standard amount to find in an energy drink. However, it contains 26 grams of sugar. The American Heart Association says a healthy adult should never exceed 25 mg of sugar daily. So just one serving of this drink throws you over the limit.
Compared to Redbull and Monster, I’d say Guayaki is better. Its caffeine comes from yerba mate leaves, not additives. Guayaki has just 13 grams of sugar per serving, while Redbull and Monster have 27 grams. Guayaki uses organic, fair trade, non-GMO ingredients too.
Guayaki is a fair trade certified seller of organic yerba mate. Their model allows investment in the community. Their mission is to steward rainforest land and create jobs. The yerba mate is shade-grown by small farmers. This improves the flavor and nutrition but means it must be harvested in small batches.
Yerba mate contains vitamins, minerals, caffeine and other nutrients. It provides sustained energy without crashes and has various flavors available. Yerba Mate has been consumed for centuries in South America for its benefits like improved focus and reduced inflammation.