If you've discovered Club-Mate in Germany, at a festival, in a café or perhaps through a friend, you may already know that it's unlike most soft drinks. Lightly sparkling, refreshing and made with yerba mate, Club-Mate has developed a devoted following far beyond its German home.
But what exactly is Club-Mate, and where can you buy it in the UK?
What Is Club-Mate?
Club-Mate is a carbonated drink made using an extract of the yerba mate plant, a shrub native to South America. Yerba mate has been consumed in South America for centuries, traditionally brewed as a tea and valued for its stimulating properties.
Club-Mate takes that traditional ingredient and turns it into something quite different: a lightly sparkling, refreshing soft drink with a distinctive combination of sweetness, bitterness and caffeine.
The manufacturer describes Club-Mate as being made with certified yerba tea and natural flavours, and the drink is vegan and gluten-free.
What Does Club-Mate Taste Like?
Club-Mate is difficult to compare directly with other soft drinks. It isn't quite an iced tea, isn't quite an energy drink and isn't quite a traditional fizzy drink.
The flavour is lightly sweet with a distinctive herbal and slightly bitter character from the mate. It's refreshing without being overwhelmingly fruity, which is part of what makes it so popular with people who find conventional soft drinks too sweet.
The caffeine also gives Club-Mate its characteristic kick.
Club-Mate has a particularly interesting history. Although yerba mate originated in South America, the drink we know today as Club-Mate was developed in Germany.
Its predecessor, Sekt-Bronte, was discovered by a German drinks manufacturer at an exhibition in 1924. The production licence eventually passed to Brauerei Loscher in 1994, and the drink has been sold under the Club-Mate name ever since.
It went on to develop a cult following in Germany, particularly amongst the technology, hacker, nightlife and alternative culture scenes.
Today, Club-Mate is available in more than 60 countries.
Where Can You Buy Club-Mate in the UK?
If you're looking to buy Club-Mate in the UK, you don't need to travel to Germany to get your hands on it.
Nourished Communities stocks Club-Mate for customers looking to enjoy the original yerba mate drink at home. It's particularly popular with people looking for something different from conventional soft drinks and energy drinks.
Whether you're already a Club-Mate convert or trying it for the first time, it's worth keeping a few bottles chilled in the fridge.
How Should You Drink Club-Mate?
Club-Mate is particularly good served cold, straight from the fridge. Its lightly sparkling, refreshing character makes it an easy drink to enjoy on its own.
It's also popular as a mixer. Its slightly bitter, herbal flavour works surprisingly well with spirits and cocktails, particularly when you're looking for something less sweet than a traditional mixer.
Try Club-Mate in the UK
If you've been wondering where to buy Club-Mate in the UK, you can find it at Nourished Communities.
It's a unique drink with an unusual history, a distinctive flavour and a loyal following around the world.
If you've never tried it before, there's only one way to find out what all the fuss is about.
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