TL;DR
Curious about the TikTok-viral yerba mate powders trending right now? I recently tried one of them after seeing it blow up online, and here’s my honest take. While these powders are convenient and trendy, they’re very different from authentic yerba mate. In this post, I break down what these products are, how they compare to traditional yerba mate, and why the real experience goes way beyond a scoop in your glass. I’ll also show you a faster way to enjoy real yerba mate without needing a full ritual every time.
1. Why I Tried a TikTok-Viral Yerba Mate Powder
Yerba mate powders like Yerba Magic are trending on TikTok, often advertised as a natural Ozempic alternative or energy booster.
I want to be upfront about one thing: I do have a slight bias toward traditional yerba mate. For me, it's never just been about the caffeine or health benefits. It’s about the connections it creates, the ritual of preparing it, and the deep cultural significance it holds in places like Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. So when I see mate being reduced to just another energy supplement, I feel a responsibility to share what makes the traditional way so meaningful.
Lately I’ve been getting a lot of questions from friends, customers, and people on social media asking: “Is that green yerba powder on TikTok the same as what you sell?” I figured the best way to answer that question was to try it myself.
I bought a bag on Amazon, tried it for a few days, and took notes. I wasn’t looking to bash any brand. I just wanted to understand what these products actually are and how they compare to the tradition we share through Yerba Crew.
Below is an image of similar branding in the Amazon search results for yerba mate.
Some of the most popular ones I’ve seen online include brands like Yerba Magic, Zempic, Super Yerba, and copycat powders with similar packaging and promises. You can even find many of them on Alibaba as private label formulas with claims around weight loss, gut health, and "natural GLP-1" effects.
2. What These Powders Actually Are
The powder I tried was marketed as a natural energy and gut health booster. Many of them are priced around $39 - $49 per pouch, which is quite a bit for a product that often doesn't reveal where it's sourced from. The most common formula seems to include:
-
Yerba mate extract (often from concentrate, not the actual loose leaf)
-
Strawberry or berry flavoring
-
Sweeteners (allulose, stevia, and cane sugar)
-
L-theanine (for calm focus)
-
Lions’ Mane mushroom (brain health)
-
Probiotics and prebiotics (gut health)
You mix a scoop into water, stir, and drink it cold. No brewing. No gourd. No steeping. Just instant energy.
3. My Honest Thoughts After Trying It
Here’s the truth: It wasn’t bad.
The drink tastes like a flavored supplement. It honestly reminded me of a pre-workout powder. The taste profile is sweet, artificial, and a little sour. It was nothing like the taste of real yerba mate. The caffeine kick was partially there, thanks to the yerba mate extract and the L-theanine combo.
But it didn’t feel like yerba mate.
There was no aroma of the leaves.
No moment of pause. No ritual. No connection. And for me, that’s what yerba mate is. It’s not just about caffeine. It’s about the process, the preparation, the tradition, and the people you share it with.
The powder felt more like drinking a trendy supplement than sipping mate. If you're just chasing a quick energy boost, it might work. But if you’re looking for the real experience, this isn’t it.
4. TikTok Powders vs. Real Yerba Mate: Side-by-Side
| TikTok Yerba Powders | Traditional Yerba Mate | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Powdered extract | Loose-leaf plant (dried leaves + stems) |
| Prep | Stir into water | Steep in hot (or cold) water |
| Taste | Sweet, flavored (e.g., strawberry matcha) | Earthy, bold, grassy |
| Source | Often unspecified, many sold on Alibaba | Usually Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay |
| Tradition | No ceremonial or cultural roots | Deep cultural roots |
| How it’s consumed | Solo drink in a shaker bottle | Shared with a gourd and bombilla |
| Additives | Mushrooms, sweeteners, probiotics | None |
5. A Better Fast Option: Cold Brew Yerba Mate
Here’s the thing: You don’t need to choose between tradition and convenience.
If you’re short on time, cold brew yerba mate is one of the best ways to enjoy real loose-leaf mate without the full hot-water ritual. Here's how we do it:
Yerba Crew Cold Brew Method:
-
Add 1 cup of yerba mate to 1 gallon of cold, filtered water
-
Let it steep in the fridge overnight (8–12 hours)
-
Strain in the morning
-
Bottle it up and take it with you!
It stays fresh for days, has no sugar or sweeteners, and gives you a real energy boost with full flavor and nutrients. You can even flavor it naturally by adding mint, lemon, hibiscus, or ginger.
Another great option? Yerba mate cocido (tea bags). They’re made from real yerba mate and brewed just like regular tea, super fast, no mess, and no extra gear required. It’s a great entry point if you want the benefits of traditional yerba without the full ritual. Perfect for work, travel, or just getting started.
6. What About GLP-1 and Weight Loss?
One of the reasons these powders have gone viral is because they tap into the rising interest around GLP-1, the hormone targeted by drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) helps regulate blood sugar, reduce appetite, and slow gastric emptying, making you feel full longer. That’s why it's associated with weight loss.
🧉 So where does yerba mate come in?
Research suggests that yerba mate may naturally increase GLP-1 secretion and improve satiety. In other words, it might help you feel full, curb cravings, and support weight management without artificial drugs.
Here are a few key findings:
✅ Yerba Mate and Appetite Reduction
A 12-week clinical study published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies found that yerba mate supplementation significantly reduced body fat and waist-to-hip ratio, without side effects. The yerba mate used came from Argentina and was rich in chlorogenic acid, one of the key active compounds believed to support fat metabolism and satiety.
✅ GLP-1 Hormone Response
A 2022 review published in Food Frontiers examined the potential benefits of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) in the context of obesity and metabolic health. The researchers found that yerba mate may help reduce body fat by influencing several key biological processes: it stimulates thermogenesis and fat oxidation, improves insulin sensitivity, reduces inflammation, and promotes the release of appetite-regulating hormones like GLP-1. These combined effects suggest that yerba mate could play a supportive role in weight management when consumed as part of a healthy lifestyle.
✅ Thermogenesis and Fat Oxidation
A 2014 study published in Nutrition & Metabolism investigated whether acute yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) ingestion could enhance fat metabolism during exercise. Fourteen healthy adults participated in a double-blind crossover trial where they consumed 1,000 mg of yerba mate or a placebo before performing incremental cycling tests. The results showed that yerba mate significantly increased fat oxidation (FAO) and energy expenditure from fat (EEFAO) by approximately 24% during submaximal exercise intensities below 70% of VO₂peak. These metabolic benefits were observed without impairing maximal performance or causing adverse effects. The findings suggest that yerba mate may enhance the fat-burning potential of exercise and could be useful for weight management or improving training efficiency.
7. Not All Powders Are Bad, But Know What You're Getting
I’m not anti-powder, I’m just pro-transparency.
If you’re exploring powdered yerba mate or any wellness supplement, here are a few things to check before you drink it:
Many of these TikTok powders don't clearly state where their ingredients are sourced from, how much actual yerba mate is included, or the quantity of the other added ingredients. When you're drinking something daily for energy or wellness, transparency matters. Make sure you know exactly what you're putting in your body.
✅ 1. Check the Source
The most trusted and traditional sources of yerba mate are found in South America, especially Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. If a product doesn’t mention any of these regions, it’s worth asking questions.
-
Do they tell you where the yerba mate was grown?
-
Do they name the farm or region?
✅ 2. Contact the Brand
-
Message the company before you buy.
-
Ask where their yerba is from, who makes it, and how it’s processed.
-
If they ghost you or give vague answers, that tells you something.
✅ 3. Read the Full Label
-
Look at the ingredient list.
-
Are there artificial flavors? Too many sweeteners?
-
Is it clear how much yerba mate is actually in there?
✅ 4. Use Your Senses
-
Smell it. Does it smell fresh, herbal, grassy?
-
Taste it. Can you taste the mate or just sugar and strawberry?
When you buy real loose-leaf yerba mate, you see the leaves and stems, smell the herbal aroma, and taste its natural earthiness. You don’t have to guess what’s inside.
Just the other day, I got a voicemail from someone who ordered one of these TikTok-viral brands. She said they sent her a blender bottle, but no yerba mate. Now she can’t find a customer service number, no one’s replying to her emails, and she’s trying to figure out how to get her money back. Unfortunately, this kind of thing isn’t rare when dealing with private label brands that don’t disclose who’s really behind them.
8. Final Thoughts: Tradition Is Worth It
Everyone is free to try whatever style of yerba mate they’re curious about. In fact, we encourage it. But just know your experience with one powder or trendy brand isn’t the full story. Yerba mate comes in many forms including loose leaf, cocido tea bags, cold brew, powders, seltzers, and iced tea, and each has its own vibe. We always suggest trying it the traditional way at least once to really understand what makes this drink so meaningful for so many people.
If one of these TikTok powders got you curious about yerba mate, I’m honestly glad. That means the tradition is reaching more people.
But once you're ready to experience the real thing, I hope you give traditional yerba mate a try. There’s nothing like brewing it yourself, sipping from a gourd, and connecting with the people around you.
And if you still want speed? Cold brew has your back.
Ready to Try Traditional Mate?
-
Explore our traditional yerba mate
-
Learn how to make different types of yerba mate
-
Learn more about how to get started with yerba mate
Whether it’s your first sip or your fiftieth, we’re here to help you Drink to Connect.
FAQ
What is Yerba Magic?
Yerba Magic is a TikTok-viral powdered drink that contains yerba mate extract, sweeteners, mushroom powder, and probiotics. It’s often marketed as a “natural Ozempic” or GLP-1 booster for energy and weight loss.
Is Yerba Magic the same as traditional yerba mate?
Not really. It uses an extract of the yerba mate plant, but it doesn’t contain the actual leaves or stems. Traditional yerba mate is brewed from loose-leaf herbs and has a much deeper cultural history and ritual behind it.
Where is Yerba Magic made?
Most of these brands don’t clearly say where their ingredients are sourced or how much yerba mate is included. Some are even listed on Alibaba as private label formulations.
Does yerba mate really increase GLP-1?
GLP-1 is a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar. Some studies suggest yerba mate may help increase GLP-1 secretion and support fat metabolism, making it a natural weight management aid.
Can I drink yerba mate for weight loss?
There’s research linking traditional yerba mate to reduced appetite, improved fat oxidation, and better satiety. But it’s not a miracle solution. It works best when paired with healthy habits.
What’s the fastest way to take real yerba mate on the go?
Cold brew yerba mate. Just steep loose-leaf yerba mate in cold water overnight, strain it in the morning, and you’ll have a refreshing, energizing drink with no additives or shortcuts.
Disclaimer: This post includes personal opinions and experiences. All product names and trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. This content is not sponsored. Any health-related information is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.
