Have you ever had a yerba mate latte? It's a trip. Yerba mate typically has about as much caffeine as green or white teas. But it also contains theobromine, the same invigorating and stimulating xanthine found in chocolate. In combination, you get an energetic boost, enhanced clarity and focus and a bit of heart-opening bliss-vibes. And in my experience, you don't get that caffeine crash associated with coffee. Also, it makes a killer plant based latte. Now, you all know I love me some coffee. But I've been known to switch it out for mate on occasion. Back in college I went through a couple of coffee-free stints, about six months at a time. I was going a little too hard on the espresso, what with pulling all nighters and the exaggerated social stimulation.

During those coffee breaks, I would either switch to green tea or caffeine-free tea. But during my senior year, instead of cutting out caffeine completely, I started sipping yerba matte. For two reasons.

Those reasons being: 1. I was finishing my brutally difficult senior seminar and needed all help with focus and drive I could get. And, 2. I worked at a coffee shop and had unlimited access to loose yerba mate tea and a steaming wand. So, a typical day would go like: Open the coffee shop at 6am. Drink almond milk Yerba Mate latte. Work non stop for the next 8 hours, chatting everybody up like a crazy perky smiley shop babe. Go home and work on my senior seminar paper and presentation. Eat something. Make out with Logan. Fall asleep with my computer still on my bed.

I'm not going to say yerba mate was the sole reason I wrote a 100 page final paper (which I later whittled down into a mere 40 pages). But let's just say it was a contributing factor.

Plant Based Latte Magic

Vegan blender lattes are one of my favorite quick treats. I keep it simple: tea / coffee + nut milk + coconut cream + coconut oil + sweetener + spices. Blend it up. Drink it down.

This time around, to make it a bit more special, I used ALOHA Energy Tea and a handful of toasted macadamia nuts. The ALOHA Energy Tea blend is really snazzy in that it contains mate, oolong, guarana, lemon verbena, schizandra berries, lemon peel and lemon myrtle. So it's basically an antioxidant adaptogenic energy powerhouse. Toasted macadamia nuts... well, they're just delicious. The flavor and aroma really comes out when you brown them briefly in a dry skillet.

This recipe is so simple and decadent. It comes together in a little under ten minutes (and most of that is just waiting for the tea to steep). Creamy coconut whips together with toasted macadamia nuts, coconut oil and chia. That said, the blender whips this drink into a frothy, thick wonder. There's even foam on top! Plant based heaven.

Thanks to ALOHA for sponsoring this yerba mate latte post! Check out their awesome new line of high quality herbal and caffeinated tea blends! As always, all opinions and statements are my own. xo -- Renee