So many people who feel over-worked or stressed turn to coffee for an energy boost. But is this the best option? The caffeine in coffee often makes people suffer from the "jitters" so they're now turning to other drinks instead.

Yerba mate (pronounced yerba-mateh) is believed to be an alternative. The leaves of the Yerba Mate' tree are dried along with some of the twigs. After the leaves are dried they can be steeped in hot, not boiling, water. The taste is similar to green tea with a more herbal, bitter flavor.

What is Yerba Mate?

The Yerba mate tree is found in South America and is part of the holly family. It has long green leaves, whitish flowers and bears a small red berry.

Health Benefits of Yerba Mate'

If you take a daily multi-vitamin you may want to consider taking Yerba Mate instead as it is packed with loads of vitamins and minerals such as A, B1, B2, B3, B5 and C, potassium, magnesium, iron, sodium, and phosphorus.

Caffeine is in Yerba Mate'

OK, so there's caffeine in Yerba Mate but it's been found that people who are sensitive to caffeine are not so with Yerba Mate' even though it does have caffeine in it.

Mate' also is easier on the stomach then coffee and some teas. This added with all the nutrients it has makes it a great alternative to coffee. It's not often that something is good for you and also tastes great so enjoy!