Yerba mate vs Pu-erh tea: which has more caffeine?
A cup of yerba mate has on average about 2.5× more caffeine than pu-erh tea.
Per 100 ml: yerba mate has about 2.5× more caffeine than pu-erh tea.
| Yerba mate | Pu-erh tea | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per cup | 54–80 mg | 13–40 mg |
| Volume | 237 ml | 237 ml |
| mg / 100 ml (average) | 28.3 | 11.4 |
| Cups to reach 400 mg a day (adult) | 5 | 14 |
Frequently asked questions
Which has more caffeine: Yerba mate or Pu-erh tea?
A cup of yerba mate has on average about 2.5× more caffeine than pu-erh tea.
How many cups of pu-erh tea equal one cup of yerba mate?
Using average values, one cup of yerba mate (67 mg) equals about 2.5 cups of pu-erh tea (27 mg). This is a guide, since both drinks vary by batch and preparation.
Which is better in the evening?
Pu-erh tea has less caffeine per cup (about 27 mg versus about 67 mg for yerba mate). After 6 hours roughly half to a third of what you drank remains, but sensitivity varies a lot.
Try it
Sources and method
- Markowicz Bastos et al., Acta Farm. Bonaerense 2005;24(1):91–95 (yerba mate)
- Caffeine Informer: yerba mate (producer data)
- Ayakdaş & Ağagündüz, Foods 2025;14(13):2313 (68 tea samples)
- EUFIC: EFSA opinion on the safety of caffeine (2015)
Data checked 2026-10-24. Ranges are shown because studies report different numbers. General information, not medical advice.