The South American drink contains more caffeine than green tea and provides a stronger energy boost. One cup of the herbal tea contains about 80mg of caffeine while a cup of green tea only contains 45mg. The caffeinated beverage won’t give you a spike and crash like coffee; it provides smooth, sustained energy.
The herbal tea also contains high levels of chlorogenic acid, which helps:
- Reduce cancer cells
- Destroy bacteria
- Promote heart health
As a stimulant, the South American drink increases alertness, reaction time, and recall ability. But it also contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for additional health benefits.
The caffeine content of the herbal tea is similar to green tea, about 30-50mg per 8oz cup. But the South American drink also contains theobromine and theophylline to enhance the effects of caffeine.
The herbal tea typically contains more caffeine than green tea. Both provide metabolism-boosting properties to aid weight loss, but the caffeinated beverage also helps lower bad cholesterol.
While green tea contributes to mental clarity, the South American drink boosts energy levels more. The flavor of the herbal tea is strong and earthy, similar to green tea but more bitter.
The herbal tea leaves contain caffeine. The caffeine level of the South American drink tea can range from 20mg to 180mg per 8 ounce cup. The type of product, the amount you use, and the brewing method affect the caffeine level. Tea bags have the lowest caffeine while traditional gourd brewing is more caffeinated.
South Americans safely drink 1-4 liters of the caffeinated beverage per day. In North America and Europe avid drinkers consume at least 1-2 liters per day. The herbal tea may help with constipation. The caffeine is from the mate plant. An 8-ounce cup of the South American drink contains about 40mg of caffeine versus 85mg in coffee and 50mg in green tea.
The herbal tea comes from the Ilex paraguariensis plant native to South America. It is traditionally consumed in parts of South America, especially Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile. The South American drink was first cultivated and drunk by indigenous South American groups before European colonization.
The herbal tea has more caffeine than green tea. One cup of the South American drink contains about 80mg of caffeine compared to 45mg in green tea. The caffeinated beverage provides a stronger energy boost. Both the herbal tea and green tea leaves are natural sources of caffeine.
The Indigenous Guaraní people of Paraguay considered the South American drink a gift from the gods. The herbal tea is commonly compared to green tea. In the strictest sense, it is an herbal tea. It is not a green or black tea.
Besides caffeine, green tea has a lighter, arid taste. It has a shorter steep time of one to two minutes compared to the herbal tea’s five minutes. Green tea provides a lift in energy, but not to the caffeinated beverage’s level.
If you want the best of both, brew them together. This will give you green tea’s subtle caffeine release paired with the South American drink’s strong boost.
The South American drink is a traditional drink made by steeping the leaves of the yerba mate plant in hot water. It has a unique, earthy taste and high caffeine content, containing even more caffeine than green tea. The caffeine buzz from the caffeinated beverage lasts around 3-4 hours on average. This is a bit longer than coffee but less than energy drinks.
The herbal tea also contains beneficial nutrients like antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It provides chlorogenic acid, potassium, and manganese. Some research suggests the South American drink can aid weight loss and exercise performance. It may also have positive effects on heart health.
Compared to coffee, the caffeinated beverage is less acidic and lower in tannins. So many people find it more enjoyable to drink. The caffeine works a bit differently too, providing a less intense “kick” than coffee. While the caffeine buzz is on par with coffee, the herbal tea offers additional health benefits from its unique combination of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.