Explainers
Plain-English, sourced answers to the real yerba mate questions — what it is, how it's made, how to prepare it, and how to drink it well.
Explainer
How Much Caffeine Is in Yerba Mate? (Real Numbers by Format)
Loose leaf in a gourd runs about 30–50mg per serving — but you refill many times — while canned mate is dosed at 120–160mg. Here are the honest caffeine numbers for every way you'll drink it.
Read the guide →8 min
Explainer
Yerba Mate Benefits: What's Actually Supported (and What's Overstated)
Yerba mate is a caffeinated, antioxidant-rich South American drink people reach for instead of coffee. Here's an honest look at what the benefits really are — and where the marketing gets ahead of the evidence.
Read the guide →9 min
Explainer
What Is Yerba Mate?
The traditional South American caffeinated infusion — what the plant is, the gourd-and-bombilla ritual, how it's made, and how it tastes.
Read the guide →8 min
Explainer
How to Prepare Yerba Mate (Step by Step)
Pack the gourd, protect the leaf, set the bombilla, and pour — the traditional method, plus water temperature, curing, and the mistakes to avoid.
Read the guide →8 min
Explainer
Con Palo vs Sin Palo: The Yerba Mate Stems Guide
The single word on the bag that decides how strong, bitter, and forgiving your mate will be — explained, with a side-by-side table.
Read the guide →7 min