Mate tea is a traditional South American beverage made from the leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. It contains caffeine and other beneficial plant compounds like polyphenols and saponins. The caffeine content in mate tea is generally lower than coffee but higher than black tea. An 8-ounce serving of mate tea contains around 30-50 milligrams of caffeine compared to 95 milligrams in coffee. Despite the lower caffeine content, mate tea provides a more sustained energy boost due to the different combination of chemicals that accompany the caffeine.
Mate tea has a strong, earthy flavor with a mildly bitter, grassy undertone. It can be consumed hot or cold. Sharing mate tea with others is a sign of friendship in South American culture. Compared to coffee, mate tea provides smooth, sustained energy without causing jitteriness or crashes afterwards. Mate tea also contains higher levels of antioxidants than green or black tea.
Some potential health benefits of mate tea include increased energy, enhanced mental focus, weight loss support, and improved heart health. However, more research is still needed to confirm these benefits in humans. In South American countries, mate tea is often consumed in place of coffee at a ratio of 6 cups of mate tea for every 1 cup of coffee.
To give you an idea of how much caffeine is in mate tea prepared using modern methods, I have created a table below comparing different brewing techniques and their corresponding caffeine levels per 8 oz serving:
| Brewing Technique | Caffeine Content (mg) |
|---|---|
| French press | 65 |
| Tea bags | 78 |
You’ll notice that mate tea contains less caffeine than coffee, but still provides a noticeable energy boost due to the presence of other stimulants like theobromine and theophylline which work together to create a unique buzz that differs from coffee’s jolt.
The studies are still limited on the long term effects of mate tea. But, locals in south America drink anywhere from 1- 4 litres of this goodness a DAY! I wouldn’t recommend drinking that much, especially at the beginning if you aren’t used to that much caffeine.
While coffee has approx 95mg per cup, studies have found that there is approx 78 mg of caffeine per cup of mate tea. A cup of mate tea, according to Mazzafera, is 150 ml, so by drinking 0.5 L of water, you would be having 260 mg of caffeine (almost 3 cups of coffee). Due to its content of caffeine if drunk in high doses it could induce insomnia, tachycardia, gastritis, and nausea.
Does mate tea give you a buzz?
Besides the difference in caffeine, green tea has a much lighter, arid taste, and it has a shorter steep time of one to two minutes. The most notable differences are in the health benefits. Both mate tea and green tea have a strong number of antioxidants.
Mate tea provides an energy boost similar to coffee, but with less caffeine and more nutrients. First, let’s take a look at the many evidence-based mental and physical health benefits of mate tea. Mate tea is a rare herbal tea in that it’s one of the few plants that naturally produce caffeine.
What are the side effects of mate tea caffeine?
Mate tea contains caffeine, which can cause side effects when taken in large amounts, just like coffee. Too much caffeine can cause headaches, anxiety, insomnia and increased blood pressure in some people. It’s important to ensure an appropriate water temperature when drinking mate tea, otherwise you could harm your mouth and esophagus in the long term.
The caffeine content in mate tea helps improve muscle contractions and reduce fatigue and tiredness. It enhances physical performance and provides energy for sports. Mate tea also contains antioxidants and small amounts of vitamin C and thiamine.