Yerba maté has an earthy, herbal taste that can feel somewhere between green tea, mild black tea, and roasted herbs. If you want to understand the drink itself first, our guide on what yerba maté is explains where it comes from and how it is traditionally prepared.

Key Takeaways

• Yerba maté has an earthy, herbal flavour

• Traditional maté can taste grassy, smoky, or slightly bitter

• Sparkling yerba maté is usually lighter and easier to drink cold

• People drink yerba maté for its natural caffeine and social feel

• Supermaté makes yerba maté more approachable in a sparkling soda format

What Does Yerba Maté Taste Like?

Traditional yerba maté has a bold, earthy flavour.

Depending on how it is grown, dried, and brewed, it can taste:

• herbal

• grassy

• slightly bitter

• gently smoky

• similar to strong green tea

Some people love that strong traditional flavour straight away. Others need a few tries to get into it, especially if they are used to sweeter drinks.

Why Does Yerba Maté Taste Earthy?

Yerba maté comes from the leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. Like tea, the taste depends on the leaves, how they are processed, and how they are brewed.

The earthy flavour is part of what makes yerba maté different from standard soft drinks. It is not trying to taste like cola, lemonade, or juice. It has its own thing going on.

That is also why it works well in sparkling formats. The bubbles and light sweetness help balance the herbal notes without covering them completely.

Is Yerba Maté Bitter?

Yerba maté can be bitter, especially when it is prepared traditionally.

That bitterness is not always a bad thing. It gives the drink depth and makes it feel less sugary than many soft drinks.

Sparkling yerba maté sodas usually soften that bitterness, making the drink easier to enjoy cold. If you are new to yerba mate, our yerba maté soda collection is the perfect first step to experiencing it in a functional social soda.

What Does Sparkling Yerba Maté Taste Like?

Sparkling yerba maté is usually lighter than traditional hot maté.

You still get the earthy tea base, but the carbonation makes it feel cleaner and more refreshing. Depending on the flavour, you might also notice citrus, ginger, floral, or fruity notes.

That makes it easier to drink straight from the can, especially if you want something different from coffee, sugary soda, or traditional energy drinks.

Why Do People Drink Yerba Maté?

People drink yerba maté for a few reasons.

The biggest ones are:

• natural caffeine

• a different taste from coffee or tea

• a drink that feels social

• a lighter alternative to sugary sodas

• tradition and culture

For many people, yerba maté is less about chasing a huge caffeine hit and more about having a natural buzz that fits into the day.

If you’re interested in the energy side of yerba maté, our article on why yerba maté is the best natural energy booster breaks it down further.

Why People Are Choosing Yerba Maté in Australia

Yerba maté is still growing in Australia, but it makes sense here.

Australians already love coffee, cold drinks, social weekends, and better non-alc options. Yerba maté sits somewhere between those habits.

It can work as:

• a cold afternoon drink

• a coffee alternative

• a non-alc social option

• a low sugar soda alternative

• a drink for weekends, workdays, or events

If you’re interested in how these habits are changing, our article on why Australians are choosing non-alcoholic drinks will help give some useful context.

Is Yerba Maté Easy to Like?

It depends on how you try it.

Traditional yerba maté can be an acquired taste. Sparkling yerba maté is usually more approachable because it is cold, lightly sweetened, and carbonated.

If you already enjoy iced tea, craft soda, kombucha, or less sugary drinks, there is a good chance yerba maté will make sense pretty quickly.

Learn More About Supermaté

If you want to read more about us, visit our About Us page or get in touch via our Contact Us page to ask questions about our non-alc sodas and our sourcing.