Tastes minty, but is it (naturally) energizing?

About two weeks ago, I was in Ollie's. 

For the New Englanders, Ollie's is what you get when you mix Building #19 and Ocean State Job Lot together. If you feel frisky, add a little Christmas Tree Shop. It's more on the Bldg #19 side of the weird baby, only because (per research) once this Massachusetts store went out of business, Ollie took over and took the branding. So it's literally a direct spawn from what we know and remember. 

As it's "good stuff, cheap", there's always something there that won't be next year. They don't keep a lot of the same stock in that space, so no repeats year to year. Only a good handful will actually make it through the decades, but not much. It all depends on what comes in.

My last trip in, I picked up a twelve pack of "Machu Picchu Energy Craft Organic Yerba Mate

Zero Sugar" in Alpine Mint. They are twelve ounce cans, so it's not going to make you feel like you're over drinking. If you can drink a normal can of Red Bull, then this is the same concept (size wise). 

I don't remember if I've tried this brand, but it looks awfully familiar. I figured "it's cheap enough" that if I don't like it, I won't buy it again. Especially since it was $4.99 for the case and places like Amazon is selling it for $29.99, proving if you go out in the wild and see something you want to try, then do it because you might not find it for a low price anywhere else. Unless there's an online warehouse selling it for less, but how often is that? 

It's definitely an interesting concept. I mistakenly thought "oh, tea!" because I'm used to Tay talking about Yerba Mate tea and not really explaining it fully to me. I thought this might be an alternative to any other branded cans. 

I was wrong. It's not tea per se. It's a type of herb (from a tree!) that can be steeped, but it's not normally a "tea" product. 

According to Teatulia, Yerba Mate "is used to produce a caffeinated beverage. While prepared as an infusion to create a tea-like beverage, yerba mate contains no actual tea leaves". 

The article goes on to state "The yerba mate tree is a species of the holly family with leaves that are evergreen (showing leaves during all four seasons) and produce small fruit berries that flower into greenish white flowers. The leaves and tender stems are often hand picked then dried in a controlled environment. They are sometimes roasted over a wood fire before they may be broken or cut to create the final herb for consumption. Some yerba mate is even aged in cedar or other wood for up to a year or more for added flavor.

The highest quality yerba mate is shade-grown under the rich rainforest canopy and away from direct sunlight. This shelter allows the leaves to retain more of their nutrients and flavor than plants that are exposed to the sun. Wild yerba mate trees are harvested only every two years, because their leaves take longer to fully develop. Whereas cultivated trees are harvested at the end of each winter, because they grow faster due to careful pruning, sun exposure and water control". 

One of the last things I'll quote from the article is how it is prepared. "[M]ost traditionally in a gourd, or “mate”. While the original gourds were small bowls or cups made from hollow, dried-out squash, modern day gourds may be made out of metal, ceramic or wood. The yerba, or “herb”, is placed in the gourd and shaken, crushed or ground. Cold water is then poured into the gourd a little at a time so it has time to absorb into the herbs and prepare them for the infusion. Hot water (or sometimes cold, but never boiling) is then poured over the herbs to fill the gourd. The herbs infuse into the water to produce a tea-like beverage.

The infused yerba mate herbs are not strained out from the water as with tea or coffee. Instead, the beverage is sipped through a “bombilla”, a metal straw made of silver, copper or stainless steel with small holes at the bottom. The bombilla acts as both a straw and a sieve, so the liquid can be sipped while the herb bits are left in the gourd".

It's kind of this in between thing - it doesn't know if it's tea or coffee or something else. But it's a largely South America product and has been exported to other countries for decades, according to other things I've read. 

Due to this being naturally caffeinated, you do need to be careful because too much is not a good thing. A single twelve ounce can of Machu Picchu has 120mg of caffeine - both from organic green coffee as well as the Yerba Mate, where as a twelve ounce cup of coffee "may contain 113 to 247 milligrams (mg)" according to a Healthline article. One is not better than the other, but if you're looking for an afternoon boost, I can't say which is better for you because it can vary so much in the java form. Although it seems that coffee is more readily available for purchase at nearly every street corner, where as energy drinks at convenience stores are full of other stuff besides "natural ingredients". 

This is also where I need to say "I am not any type of health professional. The information provided in this post is for general informational or educational purposes only and should not be taken as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Please speak with your medical team if you have questions or concerns about what I talk about in my blog". Also, do some of your own research.

I've been drinking this Machu Picchu every morning instead of a cup of coffee. I'm not finding myself truly off the wall crazy, but I feel like I'm doing a little more sweating at the gym. The first day I bought the drink, I tried it in the afternoon. Actually, I drank half a can and didn't sleep well all night. Maybe the ingredients do keep you a little wired for hours on end? I can't really tell because I'm so used to drinking regular coffee (no added sugar, as I use flavored creamer) and the occasional big brand energy drink (Monster Zero as of late). But the occasional times I drink anything "strong" after 3pm, I tend to not get to bed right away and watch the clock all night. 

The overall taste of this Machu Picchu is minty, that's for sure. It's not overpowering minty, but is smooth enough to have a nice profiled after taste. However, it's better really cold and as you get to the end, there's a slight grit to it. It's not grainy like you're drinking sand, but you can feel some harshness to it. "Settling may occur" type deal. Maybe it's whatever it's mixed with, is somehow not fully liquefied? There's a reason the can says "shake gently" - to make sure everything is hanging out properly? I am finding myself wanting to drink water the rest of the day after I finish this can in the morning. I'm not super thirsty, but there is a little bit of a dry mouth situation. It's not a deal breaker because I need to drink more water anyway (it's summer, it's hitting 100° most days, I'm working out in the morning). I don't know if "dry mouth" is the right wording. The drink can be weirdly refreshing with the first half of the can, but after it's done, I'm finding I want something else to drink. There's no gross after taste, but it's just got something that makes me want to keep a glass of a liquid around. 

I honestly don't think I'd buy this again. It was worth a shot to try, and knowing there's not a bunch of chemicals or ingredients in it, is nice. I'm not an every day energy drink drinker. I'll have my coffee and nothing more than that. If I have two cups a day, that's really a lot for me, and I do try not to, even though I know plenty of (decaf) addicts who keep a pot going 24/7. I've grown out of that phase and find myself not imbibing in a lot of stuff people around me take in. It's odd to say and think about and I'm sure I'll find something else to enjoy or try. I have to remember that I've bought this Mach Picchu and not to buy it again. Although I told my mother to give a can to one of her friends, as the woman is absolutely addicted to the big brand energy drinks. She belongs to a big box warehouse (Costco, I think) and buys the Monster (?) by the multi-case. She's always got a can of something with her, and I told my mom that this woman should not only cut back on them, but maybe she should try this brand I bought, solely due to the ingredient list. We'll see what happens; my mom needs to see the woman at some point at the pool this week in order to give it to her.

Until I can figure out more stuff, stay hydrated, stay alert and keep cool. 

Cheers;