The Best of Tea

I love coffee. And I especially love a rich, steaming espresso to finish a satisfying meal with company.

But when it comes to my morning beverage, I find that coffee can often leave me feeling a bit dehydrated and jittery — not to mention the havoc it can wreak on a digestive system — eek.

And tea, as wonderful as it is, cannot provide that badly needed morning boost. In fact, I find that a good loose leaf tea can be as relaxing as a glass of wine.

So lately, I’ve discovered an invigorating alternative: Mate. Mate is a wildly popular South American drink created from the leaves of the Yerba Mate plant. Like coffee, it contains xanthines, or mild stimulants (one of which is caffeine), however the unique composition of mate makes it much less likely to leave you jittery, and it is much better tolerated in the digestive system.

I first discovered this unique beverage at Teavana. They call their proprietary blend MateVana. The aroma is absolutely intoxicating. It is warm, earthy, and chocolaty. It makes you want to crawl into the can and roll around in it.

The brew produces a caramel-colored liquor. The taste also has notes of caramel along with cinnamon and chocolate. There is also distinct nuttiness to the beverage.

Two more reasons to love it: it is full of antioxidants, and it curbs your appetite.

So, give it a try in place of your morning cup o’ joe. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

You can learn more and order online from Teavana here:

MateVana Herbal Tea