Club-Mate: The golden cult drink that conquered Berlin's heart

Club Mate

If you've ever set foot in Berlin, chances are you've encountered those distinctive green bottles with the simple, almost amateur-looking logo and golden-yellow liquid inside. Club-Mate isn't just a soft drink – it's a culture, a lifestyle, and perhaps the most authentic taste of modern Berlin.

What exactly is Club-Mate?

Club-Mate is a carbonated energy drink made from yerba mate – a South American herb that has been used as a natural stimulant for centuries. The golden-yellow liquid has a unique, slightly bitter taste and a caffeine content of approximately 20 mg per 100 ml.

Caffeine: The perfect balance

This is where it gets interesting. Club-Mate's caffeine content of 20 mg per 100 ml places it in a very special category:

• A cup of coffee: 80-100 mg caffeine per 100 ml

• Red Bull: 32 mg caffeine per 100 ml

• Club-Mate: 20 mg caffeine per 100 ml

• Coca-Cola: 10 mg caffeine per 100 ml

This means that a 500 ml bottle of Club-Mate contains around 100 mg of caffeine – roughly the same as a cup of coffee. But here's the difference: The caffeine from mate is released more slowly than from coffee, providing smoother energy over a longer period without the infamous "crash".

This is exactly why hackers loved it – where coffee provided a quick boost followed by a dip, Club-Mate delivered steady energy throughout the night. And unlike Red Bull and other energy drinks, you avoid the extreme sugar hit and subsequent crash.

But it's not just an energy drink. Club-Mate has a very special place in Berlin's cultural DNA, and the story of how it got there is fascinating.

A story that begins in 1924

The story doesn't actually begin in Berlin, but in the small German town of Dietenhofen. In 1898, Mr. G. Latteier started a small beverage company, and in 1924 he discovered the so-called "Sekt-Bronte" at an exhibition – a non-alcoholic drink made from mate tea. He bought the license and began producing the drink.

Since 1924, Club-Mate has gained more and more popularity, but it would take many decades before it found its way to Berlin and became the iconic drink we know today.

The hackers' secret

Berlin's Club-Mate revolution actually didn't begin in nightlife, but among computer experts. The first cases of Club-Mate arrived in Hamburg and Berlin in the early 1990s, and for about a decade, the drink was primarily enjoyed by hackers at CCC gatherings.

The Chaos Computer Club made Club-Mate their official energy drink during their many all-nighters in the 90s. For hackers working all night with code, Club-Mate's long-lasting energy without the hard crash from coffee or traditional energy drinks was the perfect fuel.

From keyboards to clubs

But Club-Mate's Berlin story would take an unexpected turn. In the 90s, it became popular in post-reunification Berlin and became a staple in both nightclubs (where it was mixed with vodka and Jägermeister) and hackerspaces.

The bitter, tart taste, which might not immediately appeal to everyone, was quickly embraced by Berlin's alternative scene. Club-Mate became the perfect drink for long nights at techno clubs, where it could keep you awake and ready to dance without making you too wired.

Why Berlin specifically?

But why did Club-Mate become so enormously popular specifically in Berlin? There are several factors:

The alternative culture: Berlin has always been a haven for artists, hackers, students, and creative types – exactly those who appreciated Club-Mate's different taste and underground aesthetic.

Post-reunification mood: Berlin in the 90s was a city in upheaval, where new subcultures flourished. Club-Mate fit perfectly into this experimental spirit.

The techno scene: Club-Mate is ultra-popular in Berlin's techno scene, where it became the preferred drink for long nights on the dance floor.

Anti-mainstream attitude: The company has avoided advertising and built on its underground reputation. This appealed to Berliners who actively sought alternatives to the mainstream.

More than just a drink

Today, Club-Mate is Berlin's most famous soft drink. You'll find it everywhere – from späties (late-night kiosks) to the hippest cafés, from techno clubs to startup offices. It has become a symbol of Berlin's creative, alternative spirit.

For many Berliners and Berlin visitors, Club-Mate isn't just an energy drink – it's part of the experience. Drinking an ice-cold Club-Mate on a summer evening in a beer garden or enjoying one on the way home from a long night at Berghain has become as iconic as seeing the Brandenburg Gate.

The taste of Berlin

Club-Mate has a very special taste – slightly tart, slightly bitter, and surprisingly refreshing once you acquire a taste for it. Many describe the first taste as confusing, but the second as addictive.

And maybe that's exactly why it fits Berlin so well. Like the city itself, Club-Mate isn't for everyone – it requires you to give it a chance, to understand the culture behind it. But once you do, it's hard to let go.

Club Mate

Conclusion

Club-Mate has become much more than an energy drink – it's a piece of Berlin culture in a bottle. From its roots as hackers' preferred fuel to becoming the very symbol of Berlin's alternative nightlife, Club-Mate has managed to become part of the city's identity in a way few brands ever achieve.

So next time you're in Berlin, grab a green bottle with the characteristic golden-yellow liquid from the nearest späti. Take a sip, taste that bitter, tart distinctive flavor, and know that you're drinking a piece of authentic Berlin history. As Berliners say: "Club-Mate macht wach!" – Club-Mate keeps you awake.

Have you tried Club-Mate? Share your experiences with Berlin's cult drink in the comments below!