Picture the stereotypical cup of tea. Now picture the stereotypical energy drink. Could these images be any different? While tea represents a relaxed mood and health, energy drinks represent hyperactivity and danger. So what happens when you add energy drink ingredients to tea? When is tea more than “just tea”? When is green tea an energy drink?
For this exercise, let’s consider a specific drink. This drink is a blend of green tea, yerba mate, and green coffee beans. Sounds healthy, right? But how does it compare to plain tea? To Red Bull? We’ll go over that, plus the three criteria make this green tea an energy drink.
In This Post:
What is an “energy drink”?
When is green tea an energy drink?
Is green tea better than energy drinks?
Can I drink Marquis every day?
Hi there. I'm Caffeine Scientist, Author, and Speaker GreenEyedGuide. I use caffeine science to help people beat burnout.
Mate Bros yerba mate energy drink is no longer manufactured, but it is another example of how not all energy drinks fit the Red Bull stereotype. Still, there’s a lot to learn by looking at the ingredients, especially since there are still plenty of yerba mate energy drinks on the market.
Did you know sleep-deprivation makes it harder for us to connect with others? Sleep-deprivation lowers our Emotional Intelligence, meaning we struggle to keep our own emotions in check and struggle to read the emotional cues of other people.
But what if an energy drink could help you connect with others? It’s this spirit – and the spirit of the holiday season – which inspired this pick for the Energy Drink of the Month review.
The Energy Drink of the Month for December 2015 is Mate Bros Yerba Mate.
Mate Bros yerba mate energy drink is another “energy-drink-in-disguise” because it doesn’t fit the energy drink stereotype. To understand all the ways this energy drink is different, let’s explore the ingredients in this “Natural Energy Brew”.
Mate Bros Energy Drink Ingredients
This product has only six ingredients. SIX! This is definitely a selling point for people who don’t like the stereotypical energy drink with “chemicals” and unpronounceable ingredients. Mate Bros energy drink ingredients are water, sugar, lemon juice from concentrate, yerba mate leaf extract, reb A (stevia), and natural flavor.
Let’s take a closer look at these ingredients:
Water
This is a non-carbonated product, which means it’s closer to being a tea than a stereotypical energy drink. The fact it’s non-carbonated also makes it a very low Fatigue Level 2 drink in the 5 Levels of Fatigue system
As a reminder, the 5 Levels of Fatigue is a system for finding how much caffeine you need based on how tired you are.
Sugar
Only 6 grams, and just plain sugar, not any of its acronyms.
Lemon Juice from Concentrate
This is the source of the 10% vitamin C and the 8% juice on the facts panel. In this case, lemon juice is not just for flavor, it’s a natural preservative. The acidity of the lemon juice makes it hard for bacteria and mold to grow. Note the absence of any other preservative in the ingredients list.
For more information about where yerba mate comes from and how it differs from other sources of caffeine like green tea and guarana, get your copy of the Energy Drink Guide:
Reb-A (Stevia)
Stevia is a natural sweetener. The term “Reb A” is the name of the molecule extracted from the leaf of the Stevia plant that delivers the sweetness.
Did You Know: Stevia can be tricky for product developers because it’s critical to find a good source. Not all Stevia tastes the same, and a poor quality source may leave some people with Stevia’s characteristic bitter-metallic aftertaste.
Natural Flavor
Since there is no indication on the label what flavor this product is supposed to be, I have no idea what this natural flavor is…maybe lemon?
I’m not alone in my confusion: when BevNet reviewed this product, they gave it 3 out of 5 stars and expressed disappointment that there was only one (ambiguous) flavor variety available.
Final Thoughts
With the amount of caffeine in this product and the very simple ingredient list, this is a very nice substitute for a weaker energy drink. Note, Red Bull has 80 mg caffeine per 8 oz can, and this product has 99 mg. What a nice healthy swap, right?
Related Resources:
If you’re interested in yerba mate specifically, you might enjoy these posts by Yerba Mate Culture:
