Dr. Andrew Huberman doesn’t just recommend this energy drink, he helped create it and co-owns it

Yerba mate has become a favorite for those looking for steady, natural energy without the crash. For neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman, it’s been part of his daily routine for more than 30 years. Known for its smooth focus and clean lift, yerba mate delivers the kind of sustained alertness coffee often can’t.

Dr. Huberman didn’t just find a brand he liked. He became co-owner of Mateína, helping refine its zero-sugar formula and expand its reach, now available nationwide at Whole Foods.

Here’s how the neuroscientist-backed brand is reshaping what clean energy looks like.

Mateína is now available nationwide at Whole Foods.

The problem with your current caffeine sources

Caffeine works — but how you get it matters.

• Coffee is highly acidic and can spike cortisol, leading to jittery energy and crashes.
• Traditional energy drinks rely on sugar and synthetic vitamins that disrupt blood sugar balance.
• Even some teas are smoke-dried, a process that can introduce unwanted compounds like PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons).

Mateína offers a cleaner alternative: organic, low-sugar yerba mate sourced directly from a fourth-generation farming family in Misiones, Argentina.

Enter Mateína: The Huberman-backed energy drink

In 2017, Nicolas Beaupré and Elodie Simard founded Mateína to fill a gap in the market for low-sugar, organic yerba mate. They partnered directly with a fourth-generation farming family in Misiones, Argentina, to source their product.

Dr. Andrew Huberman is a co-owner of Mateína.

Dr. Huberman joined the brand five years later. A lifelong yerba mate enthusiast, he saw the potential to bring its benefits to a wider audience. “I see it as a truly peerless beverage in terms of its positive effects on mind and body,” he says.

After joining the business, Dr. Huberman helped Mateína develop its Zero Sugar Yerba Mate, which is naturally sweetened with a hint of stevia and balanced by ginger to deliver a clean flavor with no aftertaste and just 20 calories per can.

Mateína also offers Yerba Sticks, delivering 100mg of caffeine from organic yerba mate, along with a hydration-boosting blend of sea salt, potassium, and magnesium. Plus, Organic Loose Leaf Yerba Mate so you can brew your own drinks at home.

The benefits of yerba mate

Yerba mate isn’t just tea with more caffeine. It’s a complex plant containing unique compounds that deliver a range of benefits.

1. Mental clarity

Yerba mate contains caffeine and theobromine (the same mood-boosting compound in dark chocolate). The result: alertness from caffeine, balanced by the calm focus of theobromine. It’s stimulation without the spike.

2. GLP-1 support

Research suggests that yerba mate could potentially stimulate the secretion of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) — a hormone that plays a critical role in regulating blood sugar, signaling satiety (fullness) to the brain, and improving overall metabolic function.

3. A superior nutrient profile

Mate naturally contains xanthines (for efficient energy use), saponins (for immune and cholesterol support), and polyphenols (antioxidants that help combat oxidative stress). No synthetic additives required.

How to fit Mateina into your daily schedule

Because of its unique compound profile, Mateína yerba mate is versatile and can fit into your day in many ways:

The morning kickstarter: Use it as a 1:1 replacement for your morning coffee. The combination of caffeine and theobromine provides a smoother “on-ramp” to your day, reducing morning anxiety while sharpening focus for deep work.

Dr. Huberman helped Mateína develop its Zero Sugar Yerba Mate.

The afternoon pick up: Drinking coffee at 3pm. is risky for your sleep hygiene due to caffeine’s long half-life. While Mateína still contains caffeine (so don’t drink it right before bed), its lower acidity is easier on the stomach in the afternoon, and theobromine helps you finish the workday strong without the “wired” feeling you can get from coffee that keeps you awake all night.

Pre-workout: Thanks to its potential to aid bronchodilation (improving airflow) and antioxidants that may help reduce muscle soreness, yerba mate makes for an excellent, natural pre-workout drink that won’t leave you crashing mid-session. Plus, caffeine is known to enhance endurance and performance.

Science-backed energy, now at Whole Foods

Dr. Huberman’s involvement goes far beyond marketing — he’s invested in both the science and the sourcing. For anyone seeking consistent, crash-free focus, Mateína offers a research-informed alternative that’s as functional as it is refreshing.

Ready to feel the difference? Try Mateína Yerba Mate, now available at Whole Foods or online at drinkmateina.com.