Our Pick: Mateina
Check price →Mateina Yerba Mate Review (2026): Worth It?
Mateina is zero-sugar, cold-brewed yerba mate in a can — 120mg of natural caffeine, ~20 calories, and the cleanest grab-and-go swap we've found for an energy drink or a third coffee.
By The Yerba Mate Reviews Desk · 8 min · Updated 2026-06-14
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Short answer: if you want mate's caffeine on the go without sugar or brewing, Mateina is worth it. It's a cold-brewed, zero-sugar, ~20-calorie canned yerba mate with 120mg of natural caffeine per 12oz — a clean replacement for an energy drink or a late-afternoon coffee. It's Organic and Non-GMO, non-carbonated, and lightly flavored.
Mateina has picked up a following partly through its association with the Huberman-adjacent, function-first wellness crowd — people who want caffeine and a clean label without the sugar, dyes, and synthetic stimulants of a typical energy drink. As a daily soda-or-energy-drink swap, that's exactly the slot it fills.
What it isn't: the traditional gourd experience, or the best value. A can is convenience, and you pay for portability. This review covers where Mateina shines, where loose leaf beats it, and the honest caffeine math.
The short version
- Zero sugar, ~20 calories — far cleaner than most canned energy drinks or sweetened mate cans.
- 120mg natural caffeine per 12oz — between a strong coffee and a typical energy drink.
- Cold-brewed and non-carbonated, Organic and Non-GMO, lightly flavored.
- The modern energy-drink swap: portable caffeine with a clean label, popular with the function-first wellness crowd.
- The trade-offs: cans cost far more per serving than loose leaf, and you lose the ritual, refills, and flavor depth of a fresh gourd.
- The 'smoother, no-jitters' energy many drinkers describe is anecdotal, not settled science.
| Product | Style | Sugar | Caffeine | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mateina Zero-Sugar | Still · cold-brewed | Zero (~20 cal) | 120mg / 12oz | $28–$36/12pk |
| CLEAN Cause Sparkling | Sparkling · organic | Low (5g) | 160mg / 16oz | $25–$35/12pk |
| Guayakí Cans (Revel Berry) | Still · sweetened | Higher | ~150mg / 15.5oz | $28–$38/12pk |
Mateina vs the other canned mates — Mateina is the zero-sugar choice, Guayakí is sweeter, CLEAN Cause is sparkling.
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Question 1 of 6
First things first — what are you after with yerba mate?
01 · Best Zero-Sugar Canned Mate
Our Pick
Zero-Sugar Yerba Mate
Zero-sugar, cold-brewed mate in a can — the clean energy-drink swap.
Lab report: Ready-to-drink, zero sugar (~20 cal), non-carbonated, Organic/Non-GMO. 120mg natural caffeine per 12oz, cold-brewed.
Canned mate solves a real problem — you can't brew a gourd at your desk or in the car — and Mateina does it without the sugar load most ready-to-drink cans carry. It's cold-brewed, zero-sugar, ~20 calories, and lightly flavored, with 120mg of natural caffeine per 12oz, which lands between a strong coffee and a typical energy drink. It's also Organic and Non-GMO, and non-carbonated, so it drinks like a smooth iced tea rather than a soda.
Mateina has caught on with the function-first wellness crowd — the same people who pay attention to what's not in their drink. The appeal is straightforward: real caffeine, real mate, no sugar, nothing synthetic. Many drinkers describe the energy as smoother and steadier than coffee; that impression is anecdotal, not proven, but the clean ingredient list is verifiable.
The honest downside is cost and depth. Cans run far more per serving than a kilo of loose leaf, and you give up the ritual, the endless refills, and the flavor of a freshly packed gourd. If you love mate at home, loose leaf still wins; if you need caffeine away from home, Mateina is the clean grab-and-go.
- Format
- Canned (ready-to-drink)
- Sugar
- Zero (~20 cal)
- Caffeine
- 120mg / 12oz
- Certified
- Organic / Non-GMO
- Where to buy
- Amazon
What we like
- Zero sugar, ~20 calories
- 120mg clean caffeine
- Cold-brewed, portable, non-carbonated
- A better energy-drink swap
Worth noting
- Expensive per serving
- No ritual or refills
- Less flavor depth than a gourd
Who should buy it: People who want mate's caffeine on the go, sugar-free, as a cleaner swap for soda or an energy drink. Ideal for the office, the gym bag, the car, and anyone who reads labels and wants nothing synthetic in their afternoon caffeine.
What we don't like: Cans cost far more per serving than loose leaf, and you lose the ritual, the refills, and the flavor depth of a fresh gourd. The light flavor is pleasant but won't satisfy anyone chasing the bold, herbaceous depth of a packed gourd.
Bottom line: When you want mate's caffeine on the go without sugar or brewing, Mateina is the modern pick: cold-brewed, zero-sugar, ~20 calories, with 120mg of natural caffeine per can. It's a clean replacement for an energy drink or a third coffee — and the leading zero-sugar option in canned mate.
Questions, answered
Is Mateina worth it?
Yes — for grab-and-go caffeine. Mateina is a zero-sugar, ~20-calorie, cold-brewed canned mate with 120mg of natural caffeine, Organic and Non-GMO. As a clean swap for soda or an energy drink it's well worth it. It costs far more per serving than loose leaf and lacks the depth of a fresh gourd, so it's a complement to brewing at home, not a replacement.
How much caffeine is in Mateina?
Mateina contains 120mg of natural caffeine per 12oz can — between a strong cup of coffee and a typical energy drink. The caffeine comes from the yerba mate itself, alongside naturally-occurring theobromine, rather than from added synthetic stimulants.
Is Mateina actually zero sugar?
Yes. Mateina's zero-sugar mate has no added sugar and roughly 20 calories per can, which is what separates it from sweeter canned mates. It's lightly flavored and non-carbonated, so it drinks like a smooth, clean iced tea rather than a soda.
Is Mateina the one Huberman drinks?
Mateina is popular with the Huberman-adjacent, function-first wellness audience — people who want caffeine and a clean label without sugar, dyes, or synthetic stimulants. We don't make claims about any specific endorsement; what's verifiable is the clean ingredient profile (zero sugar, Organic, Non-GMO, 120mg natural caffeine) that draws that crowd.
Mateina vs CLEAN Cause vs Guayakí cans — which is best?
Mateina is the still, zero-sugar option (120mg). CLEAN Cause is sparkling, low-sugar, and donates 50% of profits to addiction recovery (160mg). Guayakí cans are sweeter and berry-forward. Pick by what matters most: zero sugar (Mateina), bubbles and a cause (CLEAN Cause), or flavor and availability (Guayakí).
Does canned mate give you jitters?
At 120mg per can, Mateina sits in normal caffeine territory, and many drinkers describe mate energy as smoother and steadier than coffee. That 'no jitters' impression is anecdotal, not settled science — caffeine affects everyone differently, so moderate your intake and be mindful if you're caffeine-sensitive. This isn't medical advice.
Keep reading
The Best Yerba Mate You Can Buy Right Now
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The Best Canned Yerba Mate
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The Best Yerba Mate for Energy
Grab-and-go cans and the biggest brewed kick.
How Much Caffeine Is in Yerba Mate?
Honest numbers for loose leaf vs cans.
Yerba Mate vs Coffee
Caffeine, energy, and which to reach for.