Yerba Mate contains antioxidants that strengthen your body’s natural defenses against stress and excess free radicals while at the same time helping reduce high lipid cholesterol and enhance immunity systems.
Tradition dictates that yerba mate should be shared among family and friends during drinking rounds known as mateadas, providing potent infusions that stimulate both mind and body.
1. Guayaki
Guayak Sustainable Rainforest Products, Inc. (Guayak) is an herb that contains caffeine, theobromine, saponins, and xanthines. Traditionally consumed from a gourd with its lid removed and shipped using a metal straw called bombilla, sharing this drink is thought to foster bonding among community members and build camaraderie (1).
Guayaki first introduced loose-leaf yerba mate into the American market in 1996, followed by ready-to-drink beverages like bottled yerba mate drinks and energy drink shots.
At first, they were the first yerba mate company to achieve fair-trade certification, helping farmers sell their product at prices that allow them to invest in the rainforest and provide better lives for themselves and their families. RSF Social Finance gives them financial support as a nonprofit financial services organization lending money directly to social entrepreneurs (2).
The company offers USDA-certified organic and non-GMO shade-grown yerba mate that is both delicious and nutritionally sound, and also a pioneer in terms of processing methods, such as using less heat and more air for drying purposes; this has resulted in lower PAH levels (3).
2. Rosamonte
This Argentinian yerba mate can be purchased in loose-leaf or tea bag form. Additionally, energy drinks may contain it. Yerba mate boasts many health benefits that include stimulating metabolism and encouraging fat loss, suppressing appetite, raising energy levels to combat fatigue, and acting as a natural diuretic to prevent fluid retention.
This brand provides a classic Argentinean blend with medium flavor and an abundance of stems, especially aged, to improve its taste quality and prevent the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may harm health. It has a distinct lemon candy aroma; when brewed in a gourd, it takes on earthier notes with subtle traces of raw cashews.
As well as its mild flavor, yerba mate offers an abundance of vitamins and minerals. Caffeine acts as a powerful stimulant that can increase metabolism and energy levels while working as a diuretic to prevent fluid retention and lower stroke, heart attack, and obesity risks.
Yerba Mate is typically enjoyed among friends and colleagues during drinking rounds called “matadors,” helping to maintain healthy social relations, boost concentration, and reduce fatigue while improving muscle contractions. It has also been proven to strengthen relationships among family members.
3. Cruz de Malta
Cruz de Malta was established in 1874, making it one of the oldest brands on the yerba mate market. They pride themselves on maintaining authentic, quality products from the source; furthermore, they use larger leaves that retain flavor longer while producing less dust; this helps provide an enjoyable mate experience for their customers.
Aroma: Vegetal and earthy with subtle notes of green tea. Taste: Mellow and smooth with an earthy note, making the flavors more modest than expected. Body: Subtle yet effective to help mask its full strength.
This yerba mate is perfect for both novices and experienced mate drinkers. With its blend of Palos and polvo leaves that create an exciting cut and impressive durability – typically lasting 30 refills before becoming unusable, this blend won’t disappoint you!
Yerba Mate is traditionally enjoyed throughout South America from a natural gourd with a bombilla (a metal straw with a filter at its tip), shared among groups of friends or family while sharing stories and laughing. Full of antioxidants and nutrients that are great for our health, yerba Mate can boost memory, concentration, and energy, improve your mood while relieving stress, assist weight loss efforts and boost immunity while decreasing cholesterol levels.
4. Aesthetics
Even though many yerba mate brands taste alike, certain varieties stand out for their distinctive herbaceousness and bitterness due to factors like the origin of leaves used and the production process. Aroma is also an integral component of flavor; some brands smell earthy, while others have citrus or sweet notes.
Another element of aesthetics involves how yerba is packaged. Some brands opt for traditional Argentinian packaging, while others take more modern approaches to its appearance. Furthermore, some yerba companies provide tailored products for different audiences – for instance, selling higher caffeine content mate.
Cruz de Malta is an excellent yerba mate brand for beginners. It is milder than many of its counterparts on this list and features a subtle sweet flavor with less dust (polvo). Furthermore, this brand makes using a bombilla easier.
Nobleza Gaucha is another highly recommended yerba mate brand featuring organic roasted and aged for increased flavor complexity. Furthermore, this fair trade certified product meets USDA organic standards while being free from gluten and GMOs, making it suitable for sensitive palates and one of the more cost-effective options on this list.
5. Flavors
Yerba Mate is an all-natural caffeine source that provides an energy boost and has many health benefits. Packed with polyphenols – antioxidant compounds with anti-oxidative effects to combat free radical damage in the body and lower risk for disease – as well as naturally stimulating stimulants such as Theobromine and Theophylline to provide a boost without the caffeine jitters of coffee, it offers an energizing boost without coffee’s caffeine jitters! Plus, it’s full of vitamins and minerals, helping promote weight loss, improve sleep, lower cholesterol, etc.
Various flavors of yerba mate are available, from herbal blends to fruit blends, so it is wise to sample as many types as possible until you find one that best fits your palate.
Guayaki Traditional Organic Yerba Mate is an ideal option for novice yerba drinkers due to its lower acidity and milder flavor than other brands. Brewed from small leaves and stems that serve to dilute its bitterness, this variety is popular across Argentina and Paraguay and more cost-effective than Rosamonte or Canarias varieties.
6. Price
Yerba Mate is packed with antioxidants that help your body fend off damaging free radicals (single oxygen atoms that damage cells). In addition, its soothing and vasodilating actions make yerba mate an excellent way to promote cardiovascular health.
This yerba is made with leaves grown in Brazil and Argentina and comes as tea bags and loose leaves. With its balanced classic taste and no over-acidity or jitters, it’s certified Fair Trade, non-GMO, gluten-free, and recyclable eco-friendly pouch packaging.
Rosamonte yerba mate stands out on this list as being among the bitterest options, making it ideal for experienced drinkers with an appreciation of bitter flavors. Roasting with no smoke adds further complexity to its unique taste; it is also suitable for sensitive stomachs because it is milder than most yerba mates.
Cruz de Malta is an affordable option that makes a good starting point for beginners who are just getting into yerba mate. Low caffeine levels and a moderate energy boost make it an excellent first choice without becoming overly stimulating or hyperactive. Unfortunately, its smoky solid flavor may put some off, and its energy-boosting power may not compare favorably with other brands; its dust content may also clog up bombilla during drinking sessions.
