Guayakí Yerba Mate is a popular energy drink, especially among athletes who enjoy it for its performance benefits. Many people want to know how much caffeine is in a serving of this popular beverage, and the short answer is about 150 milligrams (mg) per can. However, keep reading as we compare this amount to other drinks and look at the possible health benefits and risks of consuming it.
How Much Caffeine in Guayakí Yerba Mate
The Guayakí Yerba Mate premade 15.5-ounce drinks contain 150 mg, which is just slightly more than 10 mg per ounce, and each one is a single serving. The 12-ounce cans contain 80 mg per serving, so they are not as strong at about 6.6 mg per ounce. You can also purchase Guayakí Yerba Mate tea bags in 75 or 250 counts to brew at home. The package states that these tea bags contain about 40 mg per serving (bag), so these provide you with the least caffeine at about 5 mg per ounce.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CcA96uihYSe/
Guayakí Yerba Mate Caffeine Levels Compared to Other Drinks
The premixed Guayakí Yerba Mate 15.5-ounce drink is comparable to other regular energy drinks, like Monster, Zoa, and other beverages that typically have around 160 mg per 16-ounce can. There are many stronger drinks that you can purchase, like Bang, which contains about 300 mg of caffeine per can, and 5 Hour Energy, which contains 200 mg in just under 2 ounces. Standard brewed coffee contains between 90 mg and 140 mg of caffeine per 8-ounce cup, while espresso is higher at roughly 64 mg per ounce. Black tea comes in at around 47 mg per cup, while green tea contains only about 28 mg. A 16.9-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola contains about 48 mg of caffeine.
| Drink | Caffeine MG Per Serving | Caffeine MG Per Ounce |
| Guayakí Yerba Mate 15.5 ounce serving | 150 | 10 |
| Guayakí Yerba Mate 12-ounce serving | 80 | 6.6 |
| Guayakí Yerba Mate Tea Bags | 40 | 5 |
| Green Tea | 28 | 3.5 |
| Black Tea | 48 | 6 |
| Coffee | 95–140 | 12–18 |
| Coca-Cola | 48 | 2.8 |
| Espresso | 64 | 64 |
| Monster Energy Drink | 160 | 10 |
| Bang Energy Drink | 300 | 18.75 |
| 5 Hour Energy Drink | 200 | 103.6 |
How Much Caffeine Is Safe to Consume?
Most experts recommend limiting your daily caffeine intake to less than 400 mg per day to avoid risks to your health. Too much caffeine can lead to headaches, insomnia, irritability, nervousness, a fast heartbeat, and even tremors. These problems can be even worse or occur sooner if you are not used to consuming caffeine. Many people also suffer from withdrawal symptoms similar to these if they stop drinking coffee suddenly after consuming it daily. Furthermore, caffeine can interact with other medications, like ephedrine, echinacea, and theophylline. These interactions can create more serious health problems, like heart palpitations, high blood pressure, and even stroke.
Is Guayakí Yerba Mate Safe?
Most experts consider Yerba Mate to be a safe drink if consumed occasionally, and many athletes claim that it can reduce fatigue, ease depression, improve focus, and help with weight loss. However, if you drink it frequently, you may increase your risk of getting certain types of cancer, especially cancer of the mouth, throat, and lungs. Experts also suspect that drinking it at a higher temperature will increase this health risk. One possible explanation for the health risk is that yerba mate contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are also present in tobacco smoke and grilled meat.
Summary
A premixed 15.5-ounce can of Guayakí Yerba Mate energy drink contains 150 mg of caffeine, while the 12-ounce cans contain about 80 mg, and the tea bags have 40 mg. It’s slightly stronger than the average cup of coffee, and many athletes like it. However, drinking too much can increase your risk of getting several types of cancer, so we recommend drinking it in moderation.
