Today I’m talking about one of my favorite things in the world: CAFFEINE. If you know me you know that I love me some caffeine. And let’s be honest, it’s also pretty necessary when you wake up at 4:30AM some days for work.
Even though I love (okay, need) caffeine, I’ve actually never been much of a coffee drinker. No bueno for my sensitive stomach. I was excited when Argentinian Yerba Mate reached out to me about an ongoing partnership. I had heard a little bit about yerba mate after my parents came back from Argentina a few years ago. People usually think of beef, wine and tango when they think of Argentina but it’s also the leading producer of yerba mate.
Yerba mate is made from the leaves of the yerba mate tree and the production process is 100% natural. Argentinian Yerba Mate is a rich source of powerful antioxidants – in fact, its antioxidant capacity has been shown to be even higher than green tea. Its nutrient profile boasts B vitamins, vitamin C, zinc, potassium and manganese, and its primary compound, chlorogenic acid, is a polyphenol that acts as an antioxidant in the body. I was most surprised to learn Yerba Mate contains as much caffeine as coffee but with a mild, earthy taste similar to green tea. Gimme all the caffeine, please.
I thought it would be fun to turn cold brewed yerba mate into a delicious smoothie. I love drinking smoothies as a part of breakfast but I also need to have a caffeinated beverage after waking up. A girl can only consume so many liquids first thing in the morning! So today’s recipe combines the best of both worlds — a caffeinated smoothie that’s easy to prepare and drink on the fly.
Yerba Mate Smoothie Recipe
INGREDIENTS
• 1 tablespoon of Argentinian Yerba Mate
• 12 oz of water
• 1 banana
• 1 cup of your favorite berries (I used a mix of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
• 1/4 teaspoon honey (optional for sweetness)
• 1/4 cup of almond milk (optional to make creamier)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Combine Yerba Mate tea leaves with water in a glass and cover.
- Leave in refrigerator overnight for tea to cold brew
- Strain the leaves and put the remaining tea in a blender.
- Add all additional ingredients and blend until smooth
- Drink up and enjoy!
This post is sponsored by Argentinian Yerba Mate. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting Kayla in the City.
i have not tried yerba mate but im all for combining caffeine into my morning with smoothie. i do a shake with coffee but i am interested to try this now