Need a pick-me-up, but trying to break (or not start) the coffee habit?  Yerba Mate is a great replacement and it comes with many great health benefits too.  I have a soft spot for Guayaki (Gwy-uh-Kee) Yerba Mate because the founders started the business near my hometown.    They were two Cal Poly University students who conceived the idea after their friendship was formed around sipping Yerba Mate everyday with each other.  Traditionally enjoyed by drinking out of a gourd, I prefer to brew mine in the coffee maker, but brewing in a french press is also popular.  I drink it plain, sometimes sprinkling in some Stevia Plus, but you can also add milk to make a Yerba Mate latte!  If you’re on the go or need a burst of energy in the afternoon keep a box of tea bags in your desk or in your bag. 

Yerba Mate has been found to contain a significant amount of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.  Each infusion of Yerba Mate contains: Vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, B Complex.  Minerals: Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Manganese, Phosphorus & Zinc.  Additional Compounds: Carotene, Fatty Acids, Chlorophyll, Flavonols, Polyphenols, Inositol, Trace Minerals, Antioxidants, Tannins, Pantothenic Acids and 15 Amino Acids. 

Health Benefits include:

Induces mental clarity

Sustains energy levels/reduces fatigue

Aids in weight control

Aids in elimination

Fights bad breath

Guayaki Yerba Mate is organic, rainforest grown and fair trade.  The company is fueled by solar power offsetting 55 tons of their corporate footprint locally.  Check out their corporate facility in Hopland, CA below:

Their carbon reduction efforts include:

By building an inventory of their company’s energy usage, they were able to determine that their business is responsible for an estimated 28.5 tons of CO2 each year.
 
•    By working with Green Mountain Energy they are to purchase enough Renewable Energy Credits to offset 2 years worth of company CO2 emissions from energy usage (57 tons).  
(“Energy usage” consists of electricity, natural gas & refrigerant emissions).  

•    Their source for the offsets  →  a solar facility at the Solar Living
Institute in Hopland, CA; only 40 miles from their headquarters in Santa Rosa, CA.  

•    They are purchasing, in total, roughly 175.5 MWh’s of green power from this facility.  Purchasing renewable energy helps ensure that facilities, like this one, continue to operate cost effectively and can therefore compete with other traditional sources of electricity such as fossil fuels. One key way to help build demand for renewables.