GreenDeals Daily

You may remember Guayaki from our video iced tea roundup. If you watched the video, you'll remember that Yerba Mate isn't tea, it's a variety of rainforest-grown holly that contains 24 vitamins and minerals, 15 amino-acids, plenty of anti-oxidants and good ol' caffeine. This time around we're looking at Mate Chocolatte which is a combination of mate, cocoa and spices.

Like the other Guayaki products we've looked at Mate Chocolate is exceptionally environmentally friendly. Made from 100% organic ingredients, the mate is also certified fair-trade. Additionally the fair-trade mate harvest provides an economic incentive for rainforest preservation and the box is even made from 100% recycled paper (at least 55% post-consumer).

If you're expecting Mate Chocolatte to taste anything like hot chocolate, or anything else you've ever tried - don't. The taste is earthy and subtly sweet, owing to the stevia in it, and the cocoa is in the background. I had mine without anything in it and thoroughly enjoyed it - but it's suggested you try it with milk and something sweet - which would probably also be nice. I think mate might be an acquired taste for some people, but I seem to have acquired it without too much trouble.

Sold in a pack of 16 tea bags for $7 this stuff isn't exactly cheap, but then again if it were cheap, it certainly wouldn't be as effective at helping conserve the rainforests of Paraguay. Here's how I rated Guayaki Mate Chocolatte:

• Green: 3.75/4
• Value: 2/3
• Quality: 3/3
• Final GreenDeals score: 8.75/10

What do you think of Yerba Mate? Where do you get your caffeine fix? Let us know in the comments!

Buy a box of Mate Chocolatte on Amazon for $6.95