Is Yerba Mate Organic Revel Berry Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look at ingredients through a strict lens. Yerba Mate Organic Revel Berry is largely a plant-derived product, but the devil is in the details. Let's look at the specific flags that make this a 'maybe' rather than a hard 'yes'.

The first potential issue is the Organic Cane Sugar. While sugar comes from a plant, the processing stage is where things get murky for vegans. In the United States, a significant portion of cane sugar is filtered using bone char—charred animal bones—to achieve that pure white color. Unless the sugar is explicitly labeled 'Unrefined,' 'Raw,' or 'Certified Organic' (which often implies non-bone char processing), strict vegans usually avoid it. Since this product uses 'Organic' sugar, it is likely vegan, but without a specific certification statement on the packaging, a small risk remains.

The second flag is the Organic Natural Flavor. This is a common catch-all term in the food industry. While 'natural flavor' can be derived from plant sources, it can also originate from animal products. For example, natural vanilla flavor can be derived from beaver castor glands, or berry flavors can use dairy derivatives as carriers. Because the specific source of the natural flavor isn't listed, we cannot guarantee it is 100% vegan.

On a positive note, the product is free from obvious animal products like milk, cream, honey, or gelatin. The Organic Yumberry Juice Concentrate and Organic Hibiscus Flower are undoubtedly plant-based. However, the ambiguity surrounding the sugar and flavoring keeps this beverage in the 'maybe' category.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, Yerba Mate Organic Revel Berry is designed as an energy drink, and it reflects that in its sugar content. A standard can contains a significant amount of Organic Cane Sugar, which contributes to the calorie count and provides the quick energy spike associated with the drink.

If you are monitoring your sugar intake or following a low-carb diet, this beverage might not be the best fit. While it offers the antioxidants and caffeine inherent in Yerba Mate, the added sugars mean it should be consumed in moderation. It is low in fat and contains no protein, so it functions more as a stimulant beverage than a nutritional meal replacement.