Review of MateVana Tea by Teavana

Price: $5.00-7.00 per 2 ounces of loose tea.

Website: http://www.teavana.com

Availability: At select Teavana stores and at Teavana's website.

As many of you may know, I am an avid fan (or is that addict?) of all caffeinated beverages. Previous reviews have included everything from energy drinks and energy shots to coffee drinks and sodas.

I also enjoy tea and up until now that enjoyment came from the health benefits and taste of teas, not the energy boost. Most teas have less than 10% of the caffeine content of a cup of coffee according to Teavana. Not good if you drink energy drinks or coffee on a regular basis for a daily boost.

This is where Teavana's MateVana tea comes in. It is one of a few Mate based teas offered by the company; one of two that claim to be a good coffee replacement. Teavana states that Mate tea, which comes from a wild shrub, has 100% the caffeine content of coffee with natural ingredients that reduce the jitters and crash associated with caffeine alone.

The taste:

I expected this tea to be very thick and heavy in terms of taste; while it is heavier and thicker than green and white teas, it has about the same thick taste as black teas. Although it doesn't really taste like black tea and some say it tastes a little like coffee itself. I like the aroma as well; its sweet and a mix between nutty and vanilla. Teavana makes another that has chocolate in it called My Morning Mate.

It has a slight nutty taste which is due to the presence of ground nuts in the blend of leaves. Some users on Teavana's website mention notes of malty flavors; I found it can vary from cup to cup. The longer you steep this tea, the maltier it seems to get.

The flavor will be a bit too strong I think for those who don't like coffee at all or those used to lighter teas. If you like black tea, this tea is a good choice.

The kick:

Since it is technically a tea blend, I didn't expect it to give me a boost as much as say coffee or even soda. I found that drinking one cup of it did not give me the same boosted feeling as a similar sized cup of coffee but two or three cups of this tea worked well to give me a nice awake feeling. There was no crash to speak of which is great, and you can feel the boost wear off over time; for some it may wear off quickly.
Those used to teas but not coffee or other high caffeine beverages will likely benefit more from MateVana's caffeine content and natural ingredients and notice more of a positive and longer lasting effect.

Overall:

It is worth a try if you are a caffeine addict looking to switch out a soda, energy drink serving, or cup of coffee with something a bit healthier. I'd say it could also be good If you're a tea drinker looking for a tea with a kick, MateVana might be the choice for you. Teavana also claims this tea helps curb your appetite as well, although this will likely vary from person to person.

Also this tea is hearty and can withstand higher temperature water than other teas. Steeping for about 5-8 minutes depending on how strong you want it won't burn the leaves and cause bitterness. You also don't have to wait for the boiling water to drop in temperature before steeping.