Tell me the last time you walked around school without seeing one of those yellow glowing 15.5 fluid ounce cylinders in someone’s hand, sitting on a desk, or in the recycling bins of every classroom. Even if you’re not looking for them it’s not hard to recall seeing the bright cans around campus.
“Yes, I think this is an addiction. I get a headache when I don’t get one throughout the day. At least I’m not addicted to coffee…it’s just tea” (Madeline Chatfield, Junior)
“The yerba mate withdrawals are real. I drink a yerba every day of the week but I can stop whenever I want to.” (Jonah O’brien, Junior)
Yerba Mate cans are gripped in the hands of these young caffeine addicts storming about campus. Most people interviewed admitted to drinking an abundant amount of this flavored tea averaging around seven cans a week. One can’t help but think about all the George Washingtons adding up behind this. My heart aches for all of my poor, empty-walleted peers walking around campus wondering how they’ll afford their next can of energy.
In our small town filled with locally-owned businesses, it can be hard to find cheap prices anywhere. On the search for the cheapest Yerba option these were the results
| Store | Price |
| Wildberries Marketplace | $39.48 for a 12 pack ~ 3.29 for single can |
| Co-op | $3.29 and they often have little $1 off |
| Los Bagels | $4.50 |
| Coffeebreak | $3.50 |
| Murphys (Arcata location) | $3.99 usually but price reduction currently at $3.49 |
| Eureka Natural Foods | $32.30 for a 12 pack ~ $2.99 for single can |
| Winco | $2.18 each |
| Safeway | $3.49 each |
| Costco | $23.99 for a 12 pack ~ 1.99 per can |
| Target | $2.99 each |
| Walmart | $2.84 each |
*all stats are for the 15.5 fluid ounce cans
