Yerba Mate vs Coffee

Yerba mate is a South American tea made from the leaves of Ilex paraguariensis. It contains caffeine, but how much ends up in your cup varies a lot with how it's prepared (traditional gourd with repeated refills vs a tea bag vs canned drinks). Check the label on packaged products.

For comparison, brewed coffee is about 96 mg per 8 oz (Mayo Clinic). Yerba mate also shows up as an ingredient in energy drinks and pouches; the FDA notes most energy drinks list total caffeine from all sources (FDA).

Which to choose

Yerba mate if you want a tea-style drink and enjoy the taste; coffee if you want a predictable dose. If you're sensitive to caffeine, pick canned or bagged versions that list milligrams.