Organic Brewed Yerba Mate

Yerba mate is a traditional South American beverage made from the dried leaves and twigs of the Ilex paraguariensis tree. It is brewed similarly to tea, often with hot water, and can be enjoyed hot or cold. The flavor is often described as earthy, grassy, and slightly bitter.

Manufacturers add brewed yerba mate to beverages for its distinct flavor and stimulating properties, similar to coffee or tea. It is commonly found in energy drinks, iced teas, and other ready-to-drink beverages, often as a natural source of caffeine.

Yerba mate is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA for use in food. It contains caffeine, which can cause jitteriness or sleep disturbances in sensitive individuals, and antioxidants. The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted that drinking very hot beverages, including yerba mate, may be associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer, but this is related to temperature, not the ingredient itself. JECFA has evaluated yerba mate.