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How a German Soda Became Hackers' Fuel of Choice

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Re: How a German Soda Became Hackers' Fuel of Choice

#61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there much difference between the effects of mate and standard black tea? Because there's almost the same amount of caffeine in a strongly brewed black tea as there is in coffee. http://www.theguardian.com/news/2013/nov/27/caffeine-compare...

Nevermind the tea. How does it compare to modafinil?

Its not entirely unlike tea. You can see plenty of pictures of children tasting it, I doubt it has any major effects besides having to pee often.

https://www.google.com/search?q=crianca+chimarrao&num=20&sou...

Re: How a German Soda Became Hackers' Fuel of Choice

#62
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The first half of the sentence definitely feels that way... the second half just feels almost offensively exclusionary. Unless Berlin is a really weird, dysfunctional place, like London's Old Street roundabout on a city-wide scale - which is a horrifying thought.

Londoners usually think Berlin is kinda weird. Things are very different. The London ideal is suit, tie and lots of money. In Berlin it's actually the opposite. It's a bit hipsterish, but also really cool.

Berlin isn't really any more "hipster" than other cities, it's just...more relaxed. As you say, not so concerned with money and status. Not as frantic and crowded as New York or London. Lots and lots of trees.

It's basically achieved the perfect urban population density thanks to blocks of six-story buildings. Very lively, but rarely uncomfortably crowded.

Re: How a German Soda Became Hackers' Fuel of Choice

#63

If there only was a sugar free variant. Having quit sugary sodas also meant having to overcome my Club Mate addiction. :(

The original, South American variant, is a tea-like infusion, which is supposed to be bitter and sugar-free :) (though there's a "mate dulce" sweet variant)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mate_(beverage)

I know it's sold in Austria, but I don't know whether you can find it in Germany.

Edit: apparently it's sold at speciality shops in Germany too, like Delicatino

www.delicatino.de/es/nosotros?b98bf9d568d475199bf586135367cc54=qjqxosww

or

http://www.yerba-mate.de/

http://www.gustoargentino.com/

http://www.bockandgardener.com/

Even the typical Uruguayan variant is available at stores like Mittemeer and Aquí España:

http://tropicalizandoberlin.com/?tag=yerba-mate-en-berlin-2

Re: How a German Soda Became Hackers' Fuel of Choice

#66

If it's so good why shouldn't someone Kickstarter a company to make something similar in the US? Seems like a real opportunity. Just advertise on HN and profit.

You can already get it in the US here: http://store.2600.com/clubmate.html

That stuff will scrap your taste buds out and keep you awake for days. For some reason I like it... not sure why. Its an acquired taste and I can't see it going gangbuster here.

Re: How a German Soda Became Hackers' Fuel of Choice

#68

Mate is the national drink here in Uruguay, has been for a century or two :) (and for 500 years in Paraguay). And it was a fad in California some years past. ("According to a major retailer of mate in San Luis Obispo, California, by 2004, mate had grown to about 5% of the overall natural tea market in North America") But I'm surprised at the speed it's propagating in Europe. Many say it's much better suited for prolo…

It's a wonderful drink. I've been hooked up on it for many years now and it's the perfect hacking companion.

I still get my morning resurrection from coffee, but abandon it afterwards. Mate doesn't give me the jitters, doesn't burn my stomach and it's very low-maintenance compared to tea, which needs to be left just this much time before it becomes a bitter, undrinkable blargh.

Re: How a German Soda Became Hackers' Fuel of Choice

#69
post #68

Mate is the national drink here in Uruguay, has been for a century or two :) (and for 500 years in Paraguay). And it was a fad in California some years past. ("According to a major retailer of mate in San Luis Obispo, California, by 2004, mate had grown to about 5% of the overall natural tea market in North America") But I'm surprised at the speed it's propagating in Europe. Many say it's much better suited for prolo…

It's a wonderful drink. I've been hooked up on it for many years now and it's the perfect hacking companion. I still get my morning resurrection from coffee, but abandon it afterwards. Mate doesn't give me the jitters, doesn't burn my stomach and it's very low-maintenance compared to tea, which needs to be left just this much time before it becomes a bitter, undrinkable blargh.

> before it becomes a bitter, undrinkable blargh.

Try a small amount of honey, I drink a fair amount of tea (I'm English, it has to be done) and I'm one of those freaks who like it pretty stewed but if I go too far I find a drop of honey takes a lot of the edge of the bitterness.

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