Tereré vs Iced Tea: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve ever sipped iced tea and assumed tereré is the same thing, think again.

While both are cold, plant-based, and refreshing, tereré has a different story, flavor, and function—rooted in centuries of Paraguayan tradition and crafted with a unique plant: yerba mate.

So, how do these two cold drinks really compare?

Let’s break it down.

Yerba mate in tereré contains natural caffeine, but it's balanced by compounds like theobromine and theophylline, giving you:

• Smoother stimulation

• Fewer jitters

• No sudden crashes

Iced tea also has caffeine (if made with black or green tea), but often lacks the broader mood-boosting and focus-enhancing effects of mate.

✅ Winner for clean, steady energy: Tereré

Both drinks are hydrating, but tereré edges ahead when it comes to functional benefits:

• Rich in antioxidants (more than green tea)

• Digestive support from traditional herbal infusions (remedios yuyos)

• Naturally low in sugar (especially if unsweetened or in stick form like Teko)

Iced tea’s health benefits depend heavily on how it’s prepared—many store-bought options are loaded with sugar and additives.

✅ Winner for wellness: Tereré

Iced tea is a staple in U.S. culture—especially in the South—but tereré is a symbol of community, heritage, and ritual in Paraguay.

Traditionally shared in a circle with a guampa (cup) and bombilla (metal straw), tereré isn’t just a drink—it’s a social experience.

✅ Winner for depth and meaning: Tereré

You don’t need a bombilla or special gear to enjoy tereré anymore.

With Teko Yerba Mate, you can experience the refreshing, cultural power of tereré in convenient stick form—blended with fruit, herbs, and ready to enjoy with cold water.

If you’re looking for:

• A deeper energy boost

• Less sugar

• More antioxidants

• A taste of tradition

…it might be time to swap that iced tea for tereré.