# Yerba Mate: "mateine" vs. caffeine?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yerba-mate-mateine-vs-caffeine/506733
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 17, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yerba-mate-mateine-vs-caffeine/506733 "2009-08-17T16:08:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Gam\_Zeh\_Yaavor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gam_Zeh_Yaavor)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yerba-mate-mateine-vs-caffeine/506733/1 "2009-08-17T16:08:26Z")
I’m confused about whether or not the stimulating chemical in yerba mate is the same as caffeine or actually different; the internet is full of claims that “mateine” is a stereoisomer of caffeine, but elsewhere it’s argued that there IS NO stereoisomer of caffeine because it has no “stereo centers”. Having taken an organic chemistry class, however, it looks to me like there are stereocenters on the caffeine molecule. What is the deal?
---
### Author:  [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yerba-mate-mateine-vs-caffeine/506733/2 "2009-08-17T16:14:15Z")
There are no stereocenters on caffeine. Where do you see them?
---
### Author:  [@Gam\_Zeh\_Yaavor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gam_Zeh_Yaavor)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yerba-mate-mateine-vs-caffeine/506733/3 "2009-08-17T16:42:12Z")
Fair enough; chem was never my strong suit.