Caffeine content in Yerba Mate – 70 mg to 360 mg

Do you like drinking South American infusion or are you going to try it and wonder if Yerba Mate has caffeine? Perhaps you want to find out whether it has more caffeine than coffee? Is there a decaffeinated variety? Does this drink stimulate? In this short article, we will answer the questions above.

Yerba Mate – what is this infusion and what is its caffeine content?

Yerba Mate is an infusion made from holly leaves. The main producers of this drink are three South American countries (Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina). Due to its taste and health benefits, it is becoming more and more popular around the world.

Taking this into account, many of us, including perhaps you, are probably wondering about the amount of caffeine in Yerba Mate. The question of how much of this substance is contained in this infusion on average is not easy to answer. This amount depends largely on the type and species of the dried herb, as well as the length of brewing. However, we can assume that  on average a liter of Yerba Mate contains from 70 milligrams to 360 milligrams of caffeine . Depending on brewing:

• if you brew the infusion for 15 minutes, the average amount of caffeine will be 14 mg per 200 ml (assuming that you use 3.5 grams of dried herb);
• brewing the same amount of infusion for half an hour, you will get approximately 22 mg per 200 ml.

How does caffeine affect our body? Consuming this substance improves concentration, improves mood and reduces the feeling of fatigue, and, above all, has a stimulating effect. However, you should be very careful not to take it in excess. An overdose results in headaches and increased blood pressure. The recommended dose of caffeine for an adult is no more than 400 mg per day.

Are the above values ​​​​given for Yerba Mate really a lot? To answer this question sensibly, you need to look at other drinks that also contain caffeine.

Caffeine is also found in, among others: In.:

• tea;
• coffee;
• carbonated drinks.

In the case of tea, the type of infusion is of great importance. However, on average, we can say that the amount of caffeine in tea ranges from 37 to 86 mg per 200 ml.

In coffee, depending on the manufacturer, the caffeine concentration ranges from 71 to 129 mg per 200 ml.

In 200 ml of Coca-Cola drink you will find 20 mg of caffeine, while in energy drinks such as Burn or Red Bull it will be approximately 70 mg.

Does Yerba Mate have more caffeine than coffee?

Taking into account the data presented above, it can be seen that the Yerba Mate drink contains less caffeine than coffee. However, it should be noted that when comparing these two substances, Yerba comes out on top because, in addition to caffeine, it contains a number of other substances that have a stimulating effect.

Does Yerba Mate stimulate?

Yes. Due to the substances it contains, i.e. antioxidants, i.e. theobromine and theophylline, it has a strong stimulating and activating effect. It helps you focus and overcome fatigue.

Is there Yerba Mate without caffeine?

There is a variety of Paraguayan holly, the so-called impotent holly, which is in fact practically caffeine-free. The amount of caffeine it contains reaches a maximum of about 0.12%. In the case of holly it is 12-16%. So you see that preparing Yerba Mate from holly will contain only trace amounts of caffeine. Therefore, if you do not tolerate this substance in your body, you have an alternative.

Caffeine content in Yerba Mate – a few words of summary

The caffeine content in Yerba Mate is difficult to estimate because it depends on the type and species of the herb and the brewing time. However, we can assume that on average a liter of this drink contains from 70 to 360 mg of caffeine. Yerba Mate contains less caffeine than coffee, but at the same time, thanks to other substances, it has stronger stimulating properties. There is also a decaffeinated version of Yerba Mate, which is made from holly.