Energy drinks are convenient, usually fairly inexpensive, and, of course, energizing – but are they really the best option when you need a pick-me-up?
Move aside energy drinks, and make way for yerba mate: the herbal tea that is packed with antioxidants and just the right amount of caffeine.
In this article, we're going to tackle two important questions:
- Is yerba mate an energy drink?
- Is yerba mate better than energy drinks?
By the end of the article, you'll understand why we've made the switch from energy drinks to yerba mate – and why we think you should too!
Let's get into it!
What's yerba mate? Here's what you need to know
Yerba mate is an herbal tea originating in South America that has been taking the world by storm.
This traditional hot tea is made from the Ilex paraguariensis plant by pouring hot water over the dried leaves. But many people have been consuming yerba as a cold beverage in recent years. Who wants to drink hot tea in the summertime, right?
Is yerba mate a stimulant?
Yerba mate is technically a stimulant, but it's different from other caffeinated drinks. This is primarily due to the plant's high concentration of antioxidants – in particular, theobromine.
Yerba mate tea has been known to reduce fatigue/increase energy levels, enhance physical performance, boost the immune system, and may even lower the risk of heart disease. Wow - those are quite a few health benefits for a tea!
Is there caffeine in yerba mate?
Drinking yerba mate will stimulate you in a similar way to coffee, but without the jitters or the crash. Yerba mate does contain caffeine, but the concentration of caffeine will depend on how the drink is brewed.
One benefit of consuming yerba mate drink products – such as the delicious Mate Libre yerba mate energy drinks – is that you can be sure that you're going to get the same amount of caffeine in each can. When you brew your own tea at home, it can be easy to make a mistake and consume way more caffeine than you initially planned. Caffeine headaches are never fun.
Does yerba mate give you energy?
Yerba mate is a stimulating and energizing drink. It does contain caffeine, but because of the antioxidants in the plant's leaves and stems, the effects of the caffeine are more sustained and prolonged.
That means no crashing a few hours after you finish your drink! Also, yerba mate contains compounds that help you to focus, so you'll be locked in on whatever task is in front of you.
Yerba mate is a smooth ride, where you're cruising at a comfortable, yet accelerated speed. Coffee and energy drinks can be more like a drag-racing down a busy street. Ok ok - maybe it's not that extreme, but you get the idea.
But why not just drink coffee?
Too much caffeine can cause headaches, high blood pressure, and a series of other unwanted side effects. Plus, who wants coffee breath and stained teeth? Not us.
Drinking coffee in moderation isn't bad for you. But in the long term, an excess of caffeine can contribute to/exacerbate other health problems. Overall, the wide range of health effects associated with yerba mate are really what distinguish this traditional drink from coffee.
If coffee just isn't doing it for you, it's time you swapped coffee for yerba mate.
How much caffeine is in yerba mate vs coffee?
Depending on how it's brewed, the average serving of yerba mate contains about 70 mg of caffeine, compared to 120 mg of caffeine for a cup of coffee.
Will yerba mate give you more energy than coffee?
Yerba mate might not give you more energy than coffee, but it will give you a different kind of energy. Compared to coffee, drinking yerba mate is better for enhancing focus. As previously mentioned, drinking yerba mate can also help enhance physical performance.
We find this type of multifaceted, prolonged energy much more appealing than the quick boost that you get from a double espresso, or a tall cup of black coffee. Also, you can drink yerba mate later on in the day, and you don't have to worry about it keeping you awake late at night like coffee would.
Why you should swap energy drinks for yerba mate
Both energy drinks and yerba mate will give you energy when you're in need of a boost. But yerba mate comes along with a host of health benefits that just cannot be ignored.
At the same time, there are many concerns that have been raised over the years about the dangers associated with regular consumption of commercial energy drinks, which tend to be very high in caffeine concentration, and which also tend to be loaded with artificial ingredients to enhance taste and prolong shelf life.
That's why we pick yerba mate over coffee, green tea, black tea, or energy drinks any day of the week! We're not only interested in a more sustained form of energy, we also want to make sure that what we're putting into our bodies is safe and healthy.
Can you drink yerba mate every day?
Like we said above, unlike many traditional energy drinks, which tend to be filled with loads of artificial ingredients, yerba mate is completely natural. That means that there's no problem with consuming yerba mate every day!
Health benefits: Are yerba mate energy drinks healthy?
We know, we sound like a broken record – but the health benefits associated with yerba mate are undeniable. As mentioned above, drinking yerba mate can help boost energy levels, increase focus and physical performance, and can even help your immune system.
Plus, yerba drinks are packed with loads of vitamins and minerals – something that green tea, coffee, and most energy drinks don't typically have.
How much caffeine is in a yerba mate energy drink?
Our Mate Libre yerba mate energy infusions contain 50mg of caffeine per serving – the perfect amount to give you the boost of energy and focus that you need to get through the day. On top of that, the antioxidants in a yerba mate infusion work with the caffeine to provide mate drinkers with a healthy, stimulating, and safe energy drink.
What's not to love about that?
What are you waiting for?
Yerba mate is a great alternative to traditional energy drinks, especially for those who value wellness, longevity, and healthy living. Yerba mate drinks will help you to consume a safe amount of caffeine, and less sugar and fewer artificial ingredients than you would if you were drinking most energy drinks.
So what are you waiting for? Try Mate Libre's delicious assortment of yerba mate energy infusion drinks today! Served cold, they are refreshing, energizing, and tastier than we can describe in words. (That might say more about our writing skills than it does about our delicious beverage – but we still think our drinks are mighty tasty!)
With 50mg of natural caffeine per serving, you'll get the energy boost you're looking for without the jitters, anxiety, upset stomach, or energy crash that comes along with many popular energy drinks currently on the market.
It's time to swap energy drinks for yerba mate. Your body deserves the upgrade.
Try Mate Libre yerba mate energy drinks today.
