I drink a lot of tea, but I’m especially a big tea drinker these days. I’m not allowed to drink coffee on my current meal plan, and while I personally don’t think there’s anything wrong with a cup or two of coffee a day, I am taking it as a personal challenge to go 90 days with no coffee. Three weeks to go! You better believe I’m going to start drinking coffee again when this is over, but I’m liking the challenge and it actually hasn’t been too difficult.
I drink one cup of green tea in the morning before I workout, and then I usually drink one cup of black tea before switching to herbal for the rest of the day. I’ve been getting kind of sick of my usual flavors, so I decided to try out a new type of tea that I’ve seen at the store for awhile but have been scared to try until now.
Have you ever heard of yerba mate? I’d heard it was bitter and strong tasting, so I never bought it. But when I saw this:
I thought anything with chocolate in the name was worth a shot. It also contains stevia leaf in it, so I knew it would be at least a little sweet. The box said it had about 1/4 the caffeine of a cup of coffee, so I knew it would give me a little boost without making me jittery.
I didn’t take a picture because, well, it’s tea, but I can tell you I am in LOVE with this flavor. Which isn’t great, because it’s more expensive than my Trader Joe’s brand teas I usually drink. It doesn’t taste super chocolatey, it just has a smooth, slightly sweet, comforting flavor that is perfect as the weather starts to get cooler (or lately in San Diego, the cool mornings that get blazing hot by 11 AM but whatever).
I like to steep my tea for a long time, and I have noticed that when I get to the bottom of my cup, it takes on a taste that reminds me of tobacco for some reason. I usually toss it at that point, but other than that, it’s delicious.
Do you drink coffee or tea? What’s your favorite flavors (of either one)? I like variety!
I know not everyone is into green tea, but everyone knows it’s supposed to be really good for you. Perhaps yerba mate is a good alternative for those who don’t dig green tea.
According to the Guayakí’s website, yerba mate has similar benefits to green tea but the two are very different:
A green tea is one that is not fermented and not roasted. Health wise, green teas are superior to oolong and black teas as many of the beneficial antioxidant compounds are protected by the green tea production process. Black teas may taste sweeter because they are fermented and then roasted, but this flavor comes at the expense of its life giving properties. Just like in nature, green is life giving.
While yerba mate and green tea share many of the same benefits, (antioxidants, polyphenols, flavenoids, bio flavenoids, and theophylline) modern science shows that yerba mate has 52 more active compounds than green tea. There are 196 active compounds in yerba mate compared to the 144 found in green tea. In fact, yerba mate can boast higher polyphenol and antioxidant counts than either green or black teas.
Each infusion of yerba mate contains:
• Vitamins: A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, B Complex
• Minerals: Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc
• Additional Compounds: Carotene, Fatty Acids, Chlorophyll, Flavonols,
Polyphenols, Inositol, Trace Minerals, Antioxidants, Tannins, Pantothenic Acid and 15 Amino Acids.
(I say: ok, but how much?)
Guayakí says that yerba mate has many benefits for its drinkers:
Now, I’m not so sure about all of these. They cite research to support these claims but I wasn’t exactly convinced. And many of those “health benefits” are also the benefits of caffeine, which the tea has in moderate amounts. I’m not going to drink it to help me lose weight or increase my mental focus. I’m going to drink it because I love tea, and this one is really tasty.
If anyone’s tried the regular (non-chocolate) flavor of yerba mate, I’d be interested in knowing what it tastes like. I think this flavor would be delicious with some milk and maybe honey, but that’ll have to wait a few more weeks.
I’m off to put away me laundry. I don’t iron (really, I’m terrible at it…I’m missing the ironing gene) so I know my clothes are going to be all wrinkly…oh, the sacrifices I make for you, my blog readers 
XOXO
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I have tried Mate, and I mean the real stuff, when I was in Argentina. Most other Americans agreed with me, that it tasted like ass but it was an important social experience. They drink it from these special metal cups and the straws like strain the leaves out from the bottom, and they pass around the cup to anyone in the room and just keep adding more if it gets low. Now, I am not a tea fan to begin with so take my opinion with a grain of salt, but your description of bitter and strong was, to me, an understatement
But yes, it is supposed to be great for you and I will say I didn’t see a single fat Argentine woman for 6 months lol.
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Hallie, great topic–I love tea too and am curious to try this flavor now that you’ve given it the thumbs up. Did you get this at TJ’s? I’ve only seen the regular kind at the Hillcrest location. I have tried Guayaki’s regular flavor and really like it. Similar to green tea, but with something extra–I can’t put my finger on it–maybe more earthy? I know you said you like to steep it for a long time, but I wouldn’t recommend it with the regular, since it gets bitter fast. I guess that’s all personal preference though. Anyways, as far as caffeine kick, it was perfect for me, though I’m a bit sensitive to caffeine. Hope all is well!!
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I love coffee–but when it starts getting cold, I OD on tea. I sort of stop drinking water and just consume tea all day. Not sure if that’s good or bad haha. My go-to is green tea–but I love all flavors, especially Chai. Not so crazy about super fruity teas..
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I drink coffee, about 250 mg a day! Yep, I love coffee. Actually I recently posted about how I have recently (about 3 months ago) made a goal for myself to drop from about 500 mg (yikes!) to 200 mg per day (I’m doing well). I just love coffee. It doesn’t make me feel jittery, and I don’t have high bp so I figure it’s fine. I’ve actually read a lot of great things about coffee (form protecting you from alzheimer’s to providing you with plenty of antioxidants, to providing stimulus for over worked muscles!). I also like tea, and it’s usually green, black, chai, or Caribou Coffee’s herbal tea. The chocolate tea sounds great!
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I like chai or spice flavored teas the best!
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I’ve tried yerba mate before though i’m not sure it gave me a “kick!” i like the taste though, with a little sweetener and milk!
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I’ve never tried yerba mate! I prefer coffee over tea…but I do like me my tea every now and then. My favorite thing to put in coffee are those French Vanila creamer things but I cannot have it in the house or I’d go through it in a flash!!! As for teas, I am a little boring: black tea, green tea, vanilla tea and that’s about it. Nothing fruity.
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I’v never tired this before but I love all kinds of tea especially chai. I’m not really a coffee drinker!
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