A Cleaner Buzz: Yerba Mate

The US may be a nation of drug addicts, but that doesn’t mean a caffeine habit has to be unhealthy. Black and green teas have long stood as subtler, slower morning buzzes, and now there’s another option for kicking your brain in the face every morning. While not technically a tea, the similarly prepared yerba mate plant has been growing in popularity as an alternative to coffee. The plant grows in South America, where it is traditionally prepared by infusing its leaves and twigs in hot water inside of a hollow gourd. The resulting drink is then consumed through a shared metal straw.

Certain companies have packaged mate and imported it to the States. Sold as an herbal tea in tea bags, mate may be also combined with actual tea leaves for a hybrid beverage. The drink has been trending in the US for its high caffeine content and other purported health benefits.

Yerba mate fuels a pleasant high, a less jittery alternative to the coffee buzz. It contains nearly as much caffeine as coffee, but calms the drinker with additional natural chemicals. Theobromine in particular serves to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow. Unlike coffee, yerba mate might even lower blood pressure in certain cases thanks to its theobromine content. For those predisposed to hypertension, mate can provide a safe mental boost. Caffeine addicts disillusioned with the shakiness associated with large amounts of coffee and energy drinks may also do well to make the switch to mate.

Like most teas, yerba mate boasts plenty of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Its disease-fighting roster includes manganese, potassium, zinc, vitamin C, and B vitamins. It’s a healthy, energizing boost with possibly more overall benefits than coffee thanks to its physically relaxing properties. It manages to stimulate and soothe at the same time. Buying mate teabags will generally set you back more per cup than coffee, so be prepared to shell out for its pluses over our nation’s signature vehicle for caffeine.