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Guayakí Yerba Mate Organic Energy Shots
I Paid: $3.49 for a 2-ounce shot (prices may vary by region)
Here's what happened when I purchased two Guayakí Yerba Mate Organic Energy Shots and (for comparison's sake) a two-pack of 5-Hour Energy shots: The grandmotherly checkout clerk at Lunds informed me that I was probably going to have a major medical incident. "No one knows what they put in these things," she said.
And while the clerk's statement may not be supported by any existing medical science, her paranoia comes from a reasonable place: suspicion of any mystery liquid that purports to thwart the natural processes of the human body in order to artificially boost productivity.
Actually, I'm more from the camp that thinks energy shots are just overpriced caffeine.
With those points of view in mind, I tried both traditional 5-Hour Energy and the self-consciously naturally styled alternative Guayakí Yerba Mate Organic Energy Shots.
5-Hour Energy did, in fact, do something. Five minutes after drinking it, I found myself jittery, with excess energy in my arms in particular. Ten minutes in, I was a bit lightheaded and notably more alert than before drinking the stuff. Thirty minutes in, I was still focused, but still jittery. Seventy-five minutes in, my stomach was unsettled. And three hours into the experience, I'd lost focus and gotten sleepy. So: 3-Hour Jitters might be a better name for the stuff, but there's definitely something to it. As for flavor: It tasted like musky, oversweet lemonade.
The Lemon Guayakí Yerba Mate Organic Energy Shot (which contains the caffeinated plant known as yerba mate, goji berries, acerola cherry, and ginger, among other things) tasted rank, vegetal, and pungent with a bit of syrupy lemon to the flavor. Eight minutes after drinking it: nothing. Thirty minutes into it my notes read: "Slightly more awake? Debatable." After that, nothing, and then I felt like taking a nap.
The Chocolate Raspberry version was slightly better from a flavor perspective (sort of like Hershey's meets raspberry jam), but equally unimpressive from a productivity perspective. So, in conclusion, if you've got to do an energy shot, embrace the jitters and go for 5-Hour Energy. Or better yet, have an espresso.
OK, so now I've tried the Guayaki Organic Energy Shot, and I pretty much agree with the reviewer's take on that. Gave me about the kick that a cup of my Morning Thunder tea gives me, no more, and lasted about as long, definitely not 5 hours, maybe an hour or so. And a bit more energy for that period of time but no change in mood. My 5-Hour, as said below, makes me more energetic, alert and...+READ
OK, so now I've tried the Guayaki Organic Energy Shot, and I pretty much agree with the reviewer's take on that. Gave me about the kick that a cup of my Morning Thunder tea gives me, no more, and lasted about as long, definitely not 5 hours, maybe an hour or so. And a bit more energy for that period of time but no change in mood. My 5-Hour, as said below, makes me more energetic, alert and cheerful for more than 5 hours. No comparison. I'm sure not switching!-COLLAPSE
Interesting! Things affect different people differently. I've used 5-hour energy drinks for quite a while now. They do not make me at all jittery, but do make me more energetic and cheerful for at least 5 hours, usually longer. In fact, I dare not have one much after noon or 1:00, for fear of not being able to sleep! And even my holistic doc looked at the bottle, read the ingredients, and...+READ
Interesting! Things affect different people differently. I've used 5-hour energy drinks for quite a while now. They do not make me at all jittery, but do make me more energetic and cheerful for at least 5 hours, usually longer. In fact, I dare not have one much after noon or 1:00, for fear of not being able to sleep! And even my holistic doc looked at the bottle, read the ingredients, and pronounced it OK in moderation.
I drink Morning Thunder Tea which contains Mate, so I'm used to that. But a cup of it certainly doesn't keep me going for 5 hours. And espresso? I wouldn't dare--I WOULD be jittery and wouldn't sleep for days! Too much strong coffee has that effect on me.
Just got my first Guayaki Organic Energy Shot and haven't tried it yet. I'll report back after I do. You've made me NOT look forward to the taste, yikes! The 5-hours don't taste at all bad.-COLLAPSE
Coffee. Tea. Stick with the classics. We know they are safe for almost everyone.
I believe Yerba mate is not known to give 'caffeine jitters,' so judging it's effectiveness by looking for that surge of energy may have caused you to think that it wasn't working. Among my arsenal ate caffeine pills, gum, and random 99¢ store energy drinks.
Whatever happened to that misbegotten beverage that bragged about being the only beer available containing both ginseng and caffeine? I thought at the time that impaired judgment and high energy seemed a bad combination, inciting thousands of Darwin Award nominations, so I naturally expected that it would take off like a rocket in the American marketplace.
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Well, at least I now know what 5 Hour Energy does to you.
@Aramek: Best comment ever!
Seriously. Why can't we flag other commenters?
I had a 5 Hour Energy, and, suddenly, I feel all warm, motivated, and powerful enough to do anything! Now that I am a superhero, my first task will be to destroy the evil that is Bids Mix dot com.