Virtue clean energy Yerba Mate

Yerba mate, a traditional South American drink, dating back centuries is gaining

worldwide popularity due to its wealth of health benefits. Originating from South America and coined ‘the drink of the gods’, yerba mate is a naturally energising leaf retrieved from the native species of evergreen holly tree called llex paraguariensis. The tradition of drinking yerba mate has remained unchanged in South American culture and since gaining popularity it is now available worldwide.

Yerba mate leaves are picked, harvested by hand by cultivators in Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil, and then dried and ground to make a caffeinated herb similar to tea, coffee and cacao. Throughout South America the yerba mate drinking ritual represents unity by bringing people together and the product is also known to have major health benefits including more antioxidants than green tea, and also 7 out of 9 amino acids and nearly every vitamin and mineral your body needs (vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, C, E, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, sulphur and zinc).

In 2020, Virtue Drinks, the multi-award-winning clean energy drinks brand brought yerba mate to the UK market for the first time with their range of Virtue Yerba Mate clean energy drinks. Each can comes packed with 80mg of natural caffeine, the same amount as other leading energy drink or coffee brands. Sugar free, zero calories, nothing artificial, and available in two flavours, the cans are shaking up the drinks industry by offering a truly healthy and delicious clean alternative to traditional energy drinks Offering a sustained energy boost without having to compromise on sugar or calorie intake, the product is also popular amongst footballers and is often consumed ahead of a match to ensure athletes perform their best.

Over in the US the yerba mate market has seen growth to over $150 million and as the trend and desire for healthier products continue to rise, the UK is expected to follow suit. Each variant of Virtue Yerba Mate is available in 250ml cans and can be found in all good retailers across the UK.