The 10 Best Yerba Mate Teas

These Guayaki Traditional Organic (appx. $15) not only taste good, but they’re versatile, too, since they’re great for making both hot and iced beverages. The bags are easy to take with you anywhere, so they are perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up at the office.

This Inato Premium (around $17) claims to have no stems and very little dust, with each bag containing leaves from shade-grown plants. Unlike many others, it’s neither smoked nor aged, which leads to a brighter color and a fresher, lighter drink.

You’ll get the boost you need from the Taragui Sin Palo (around $14), which has no stems for a stronger drink with a more intense flavor. This pure-leaf product comes from Argentina and should work well with a French press or coffee percolator.

Ecoteas Organic Unsmoked (appx. $15) comes from a small company in Oregon, and is a loose leaf variety made from sustainably-grown plants. It offers a flexible preparation, as it’s great for use with an infuser, a traditional gourd, or even an espresso machine.

Even traditionalists will appreciate the Cruz De Malta 1/2 Kilo (appx. $7) since it’s con palo, meaning it contains stems. This makes it a great choice for a gourd and bombilla, because the stems will help prevent the coarsely cut leaves from clogging the straw.

Great for newcomers, the Kiss Me Organics Variety Pack (around $20) includes four boxes of bags, each with a different flavor blend. All provide the benefits that aficionados love, but the harmonized tastes offer a palatable introduction to this extra-bold beverage.

If you’d like to switch from coffee to mate, the Mate Factor Dark Roast (appx. $10) gives you a fine intermediary. Billing itself as a grain beverage, this drink blends Ilex paraguariensis with roasted carob, barley, and chicory for a rich, java-like profile.

Each can of Clean Cause Sparkling (about $33) should put a little pep in your step, no matter which flavor you try. You can feel good about choosing this drink, too, because half of the profits go toward programs to help recovering drug and alcohol addicts.

Don’t have time for brewing? Then you might try the Wisdom of the Ancients Royale (around $9), an instant powder that gives you the benefits of yerba without the effort of preparing a gourd. It is made with stevia, for a sweetness that’s calorie-free.

Tea lovers will probably already know the brand, and this Numi Mate Lemon (appx. $17) lives up to its reputation for quality. The blend contains green tea, which creates a slightly sweet and earthy profile that’s enlivened by the citrus.