How Much Caffeine Is In Yerba Mate? Everything You Need To Know!
How Much Caffeine Is In Yerba Mate? Everything You Need To Know!
Yerba mate, or "maté" as most people call it, is an herbal tea-like beverage that is made from the leaves and twigs of trees in the deep South American rain forests. If you have ever enjoyed one, or even seen someone else having mate, you know that it is usually consumed through a metal straw that filters the dried stepped leaves out of a wooden cup.
Although it may seem very exotic, mate has become extremely popular around the world for its delicious, natural taste, as well as its health benefits and energy-boosting properties. But you may be wondering: just how much caffeine is in yerba mate?
There are about 80-85 milligrams of caffeine in each 8-ounce cup of yerba mate. Which is much more than almost any other tea, but slightly less than a standard cup of coffee. Overall, there is substantial caffeine in yerba mate that will certainly give you an energy boost and can improve brain function.
If you want to learn a little more about this enticing tea, you have come to the right place! We have all the information you need regarding yerba mate including how it compares to coffee and standard teas, as well as the many health benefits and even medicinal properties of drinking mate.
How Much Caffeine Is In Yerba Mate?
Caffeine has become one of the most popular and socially acceptable drugs in the world, and don’t be misled, it is certainly a drug that stimulates both the brain and the nervous system. Of course, it is safe to ingest and almost every culture on earth has their favorite caffeine beverage that they enjoy to get them through the day.
Since before the conquistadors discovered “the New World”, indigenous people throughout South America have been drinking mate for its medicinal properties including its inherent ability to improve mental focus. Today we understand that the reason mate makes you feel so attentive, determined, and energized is because of the natural caffeine found in the leaves.
As we now know, there are typically between 80-85 milligrams of caffeine in a standard cup of yerba mate. If you are not quite sure how that number compares to your cup of coffee or tea you drink regularly, keep reading! We are going to compare and contrast both the caffeine intake in the various popular drinks compared to mate so you understand just how strong it is.
Yerba Mate Caffeine Content vs Coffee
Most of us have enjoyed a cup of coffee at some point in our lives and therefore know the effects that caffeine can have on the body. Like any substance, we can build up a tolerance so that a cup of coffee is no longer having the same effects it may have had when we first started drinking it or after a long break.
If you are looking for a beverage that has more caffeine than coffee, you will not find it in yerba mate. Unless you are drinking instant coffee, which tends to have only about 60 milligrams of caffeine, a standard cup of drip coffee contains about 100 milligrams, which is slightly higher than the 80-85 milligrams in a cup of mate.
If you enjoy drinking espresso, either in a shot or in a latte or cappuccino, the caffeine intake is even higher at 210 milligrams in every 3.5 ounces.
Depending on your regular caffeine intake, you may not notice a decline in energy or focus when switching to mate from coffee, but if a Starbucks espresso or specialty drink is in your daily diet, it will significantly lower your caffeine ingestion.
Yerba Mate Caffeine Content vs Tea
No matter which flavor is your favorite, if tea is your beverage of choice, you are already drinking far less caffeine than you would if you were having any type of coffee. And in fact, standard teas have even less caffeine than yerba mate.
You may be surprised to read that black tea only has 47 milligrams of caffeine per cup, green tea has about 24, and herbal teas have no caffeine at all!
If you are looking for a happy medium between tea and coffee, yerba mate might be the perfect caffeinated beverage for your life. But before you go ahead and start drinking it every day, let's learn a little more about how much caffeine is the recommended maximum for adults to intake every day, as well as the health benefits of this amazing ancient drink.
Can You Drink Yerba Mate Every Day?
When deciding if yerba mate should be added to your daily diet, it is extremely important to understand what caffeine is doing to your body and how much is suggested for a healthy mind and body.
How Much Caffeine Can You Drink Every Day?
Let's talk about caffeine. You have probably heard rumors from both ends of the spectrum which report that caffeine is either a dangerous poison for the body or a completely acceptable part of our diets. So which is it?
Caffeine has been consumed by humans for thousands of years, and as far as doctors and scientists can tell, it is not quite as bad for you as you might think. In fact, studies show that we can drink up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day and still stay within the recommended guidelines for a healthy body. Now that you know how much caffeine is in most of your favorite beverages, you can do the math yourself, but essentially that means you should ingest no more than two espressos, four cups of coffee, eight cups of black tea, or four and a half cups of yerba mate every day. This of course is more than most people drink.
The average American only drinks about 110-260 milligrams of caffeine a day, but 85 percent of the population does have caffeine every single day. So you might be wondering: if you stay within the suggested milligram allowance, is it safe to drink caffeine every day?
What Are The Health Risks When Drinking Caffeine?
Here's what you need to know about caffeine, although it is safe to drink every day for most people, each of our bodies is different! Too much caffeine in your diet could lead to anxiety, insomnia, heart palpitations, tremors, headaches, and general restlessness.
If you feel any of these symptoms, it might be time to either cut down or cut out caffeine completely. Luckily, if you are a three-lattes-a-day kind of person, switching to yerba mate might be a great way to continue enjoying caffeine every day while still enjoying a little boost of energy and focus!
Can You Drink Yerba Mate Every Day?
Back to our original question: can you drink yerba mate every day? Well, it's really up to your body. Technically, it is safe to drink four cups of yerba mate every day, but that might not be what is right for you. Make sure to listen to your body and look out for the signs we listed above that are your body telling you you are intaking too much caffeine!
Which is Healthier - Coffee or Yerba Mate?
Mate has less caffeine per ounce than your average cup of coffee but is it the healthier option?
Yes! Yerba mate is healthier than coffee and here's why:
- Mate is packed with antioxidants, as well as vitamins and minerals that will boost your immune system and your overall health. While coffee has a few beneficial nutrients, it doesn't even compare to the vast amount contained in yerba mate.
- Yerba mate has antiparasitic properties and will keep your digestive track much healthier than coffee will.
- Your heart and bone density can benefit from yerba mate! On the contrary, coffee can be detrimental to heart and bone health.
Final Thoughts
You now know everything there is to know about the yerba mate caffeine content!
Including how much caffeine it has (80-85milligrams per cup in case you forgot), as well as the health benefits of mate and the concerns of caffeine, and even how to compare mate to every type of coffee and tea!
Just to recap, mate has enough caffeine to boost your energy, it can also benefit your mental and physical health, and when drank in moderation, improve your digestion, natural immunity, and more! So if you were thinking about giving up coffee but couldn't find the right choice to replace it, yerba mate might just be the one.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/yerba-mate/faq-20058343
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-benefits-of-yerba-mate#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4
