Guayakí vs Mateina: Which Canned Yerba Mate Is Better?
The category founder vs the zero-sugar challenger. They split cleanly on sugar, caffeine, and flavor — here's which fits you.
By The Yerba Mate Reviews Desk · 6 min · Updated 2026-06-14
Find your match.
Answer two quick questions — we'll point you to the lion's mane that fits and this week's best deal.
The short answer: choose Mateina if you want zero sugar and a clean, modern energy-drink swap; choose Guayakí if you want the original, sweeter, fruit-forward canned mate with a bit more caffeine. They're both organic canned mate — the real fork is sugar.
This is a convenience comparison: cans cost more per serving than loose leaf and skip the ritual, but they're a genuinely better daily option than soda or a synthetic energy drink.
The short version
- Guayakí (Yerba Madre) cans: ~150mg caffeine per 15.5oz, organic, cane-sugar-sweetened, bright fruit flavors — the category founder.
- Mateina: ~120mg caffeine per 12oz, organic, ZERO sugar (~20 cal), cold-brewed — the clean energy-drink swap (Huberman-associated).
- The deciding factor is sugar: Guayakí is sweetened; Mateina is zero-sugar.
- Guayakí has a touch more caffeine per can and a sweeter, juicier taste; Mateina is lighter and crisper.
- Both beat soda/synthetic energy drinks on natural caffeine and ingredient quality.
| Guayakí | Mateina | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine | ~150mg / 15.5oz | ~120mg / 12oz |
| Sugar | Cane sugar (sweetened) | Zero (~20 cal) |
| Style | Bright, fruit-forward | Light, crisp, cold-brewed |
| Organic | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Sweet original + more caffeine | Zero-sugar clean energy |
Guayakí vs Mateina (canned).
Find your match
30-sec finder
Question 1 of 6
First things first — what are you after with yerba mate?
Guayakí: the sweet original
Guayakí basically invented canned mate. Its cans (now also branded Yerba Madre) deliver around 150mg of natural caffeine per 15.5oz, are USDA Organic, and lean into bright, fruit-forward flavors like Revel Berry — sweetened with cane sugar. If you want a refreshing, juicy, energizing can and don't mind the sugar, it's the crowd-pleaser.
Mateina: the zero-sugar swap
Mateina is the modern, zero-sugar take. Cold-brewed, organic, roughly 20 calories, with about 120mg of caffeine per 12oz, it's positioned as a clean replacement for an energy drink — and it's picked up a following partly via Dr. Andrew Huberman. The taste is lighter and crisper than Guayakí's sweeter cans.
Which should you buy?
Pick Mateina for zero sugar, fewer calories, and a clean crisp can; pick Guayakí for the sweeter, fruitier original with slightly more caffeine. Either way, it's still caffeine — moderate your intake, and be mindful if you're pregnant or caffeine-sensitive. Not medical advice. If value matters most, remember loose leaf in a gourd costs far less per serving than either can.
Questions, answered
Is Guayakí or Mateina better?
Mateina if you want zero sugar and a clean energy-drink swap; Guayakí if you want the sweeter, fruit-forward original with a bit more caffeine. The main difference is sugar.
Which has more caffeine?
Guayakí, at roughly 150mg per 15.5oz can, versus Mateina's ~120mg per 12oz. Both are natural caffeine from yerba mate.
Is Mateina actually zero sugar?
Yes — Mateina is a zero-sugar, ~20-calorie cold-brewed can, which is its main selling point versus the cane-sugar-sweetened Guayakí cans.
Are canned mates worth it vs loose leaf?
For convenience and portability, yes; for value and the full flavor/ritual, loose leaf in a gourd wins and costs far less per serving. Cans are the grab-and-go option.