McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) carries more total caffeine per serving (100mg per 32 oz cup vs 85mg per 8 oz cup), but ounce for ounce yerba mate is actually the stronger drink at about 11mg per fluid ounce against 3. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.
McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) vs yerba mate: the numbers
| McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) | yerba mate | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 100mg per 32 oz cup | 85mg per 8 oz cup |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 3.1mg | 10.6mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 4.0 | 4.7 |
Sources: McDonald's Sweet Tea (large)'s figure is verified in our McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); yerba mate's figure is verified in our yerba mate guide against Caffeine Informer / compiled (source).
The concentration gap is the striking part: yerba mate packs roughly 3 times the caffeine per ounce. Sipping speed matters at that density; a 8 oz cup finished in minutes hits differently than the same milligrams spread over a slow cup.
Which one should you pick?
Pick yerba mate when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) when you actually need the bigger hit and know your tolerance. If you are stacking either with other caffeinated drinks through the day, run the math against the 400mg reference rather than guessing.
For context, the FDA cites 400mg of caffeine a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. Tolerance and health vary, so treat these numbers as information, not advice.
Related reading
- McDonald's Sweet Tea (large): the full caffeine guide
- yerba mate: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
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Gear from this guide
FAQ
Does McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) or yerba mate have more caffeine? McDonald's Sweet Tea (large): 100mg per 32 oz cup versus 85mg per 8 oz cup for yerba mate.
Which is stronger per ounce? yerba mate, at about 10.6mg per fluid ounce versus 3.1mg for McDonald's Sweet Tea (large).
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