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CAFFEINE:
Sharpens focus and reaction time without overstimulation when paired with the other compounds present in maté.
THE PLANT THAT POWERS IT ALL
Yerba maté is a plant native to South America that has been consumed for centuries across Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
It’s rich in natural caffeine,and antioxidants, a combination that produces a distinct kind of positive energy: focused, smooth, and long-lasting. A noticeable lift, allowing for sharp focus.
THE HISTORY
South American communities have been drinking maté for over 500 years. Long before energy drinks, before coffee shops on every corner, before caffeine became a commodity. There was the gourd, the bombilla, and the circle of people passing it around. The ritual predates most modern caffination by centuries and is a true gesture of friendship and trust. Yerba Nº 1 isn’t designed to replace the ritual, more a way to carry the maté energy into the moments where loose leaf isn't an option.
THE SCIENCE
Yerba maté works differently than coffee because it's doing more than delivering caffeine. There are four active compounds working together:
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THEOBROMINE:
The same compound found in dark chocolate, responsible for a slower, steadier energy release that extends the lift and smooths the descent.
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THEOPHYLLINE:
A mild bronchodilator that promotes calm alertness. It's why maté feels more open and breathable than a coffee hit.
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POLYPHENOLS:
Antioxidant compounds that protect cells from oxidative stress, support immune function, and contribute to the anti-inflammatory profile that makes maté a functional drink, not just a caffeinated one. Yerba maté contains a higher concentration of polyphenols than green tea.
SMOKED VS. UNSMOKED
Many commercial maté products use smoked leaf, a shortcut that introduces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons into the leaf. They affect both taste and what ends up in your body.
We only use organic, unsmoked yerba maté. The leaf is dried with hot air, not smoke. The result is a smooth flavor profile making each sip brighter, greener and less bitter.
MEET YOUR NEW FAVORITE SWEETENER
What is Katemfe Fruit Extract (Thaumatin)?
Katemfe Fruit Extract (Thaumatin) is a rare tropical plant native to the rainforests of West Africa, where it has been used for centuries to naturally sweeten foods and beverages. Its secret lives inside a small, jelly-like aril surrounding the fruit's seeds, and that's where thaumatin comes from. Thaumatin is a naturally occurring sweet protein, not a sugar. It delivers sweetness through protein interaction with taste receptors, which means your body processes it completely differently than sugar or artificial sweeteners with no impact on blood glucose.
Why it's in Yerba No.1
Most drinks face a dilemma: sweeten with sugar and spike your blood glucose, or sweeten with stevia and leave a harsh, chemical aftertaste. We refused both. Thaumatin can enhance or mask sour and bitter tastes depending on the other ingredients present, making it a perfect complement to yerba maté's bold, naturally earthy flavor, rounding out the bitterness of maté.
The result is just 2g of organic cane sugar per stick, with Katemfe doing the rest of the work. Clean sweetness. Real flavor. Nothing to hide.
Why you haven't seen it everywhere
Despite the fact that Katemfe Fruit Extract (Thaumatin) is delicious and internationally recognized for its purity and safety for over forty years, it remains a hidden gem. You are not seeing it in most American brands because it is a rare fruit and very difficult to cultivate. The result is a sweetener that tastes very close to real sugar. It is multiple times more expensive than sweeteners like stevia and can be hard to get your hands on, but we prioritized the best tasting choice. Give it a try today when you choose Yerba No.1 and watch as Katemfe Fruit Extract becomes the new gold standard for real sugar taste.
We're proud to be one of the first in the U.S. to pair Katemfe Fruit Extract with organic yerba maté. This is what "honest by design" actually means.
