Short Answer: It Depends on What You're Using it For

Pure Leaf Yerba Mate is great for coffee makers and French presses. Leaf/Stem Yerba Mate is great for mate gourds and tereré.

Pure Leaf Yerba Mate is a Great Choice for the Coffee Maker

You'll find our signature Pure Leaf Cut in our Pure Leaf One and Five-Pounders. A Pure Leaf Cut has little to no stem in it, and very little powder as well. Pure Leaf Yerba Mate is a nice choice when you're brewing yerba mate in a French Press, espresso machine, or coffee percolator. It's easy to work with, and it makes a strong, bright cup of mate.

Choose a Whole Plant Cut when Drinking Mate Traditional-Style

I prefer Leaf/Stem Yerba Mate whenever I'm making a traditional mate or terere. Also known as Yerba Mate Con Palo (Spanish for "Yerba Mate With Stem"), Traditional Whole Plant Yerba Mate contains stem and powder as well as leaf. Its flavor is milder (suave in Spanish) than Pure Leaf Yerba Mate. The stems add a subtle roundness to the flavor, while the powder lends a frothiness that some people compare to Japanese matcha tea. 

Whole Plant Yerba Mate contains about 85% the caffeine of Pure Leaf Yerba Mate, but Whole Plant is actually higher in antioxidants. Because Whole Plant Yerba Mate uses more of the harvest, it is more ecological as well as economical.

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