Loyola’s Orleans Room received a green upgrade this summer with the addition of two yerba mate tea dispensers, giving diners a healthier, eco-friendly option.

Avid coffee drinkers and students who need an extra boost of energy can choose a healthy alternative with yerba mate tea, according to Angela Randall, area marketing director for Dining Services.

Yerba mate tea is derived from the leaves of the yerba mate tree, which grows in subtropical areas. Dining Services, in an effort to be

environmentally friendly, has set a goal to save 100,000 rainforest trees this year, according to Randall.

Guayaki, a Dining Services vendor, introduced this sustainable option.

“Their program is so holistic. They work directly with the growers; they are able to make the translation about literally how many trees we can save from clear cutting,” Randall said.

As long as students keep drinking the yerba tea, Dining Services believes it can reach its goal and increase awareness, Randall said.

Fresh tea undergoes less processing than coffee on the

way to your cup. It is also much healthier and affects the body in a less harmful way, said Jonathan Lam, a biology junior who is researching the effects of tea on the body.

“Personally, I believe tea is a better alternate option than coffee because coffee often has extra calories in the drink and stimulates the body in a more artificial way than tea does,” Lam said.

“I feel refreshed and energized after drinking it,” said Joy Cornay music industry junior, who believes the tea is a good addition to the Orleans Room.

While some tea drinkers focus on the personal effects it offers, Lam chooses to take notice of the environmental impact.

“Tea is almost always hand- plucked by people instead of a machine that can emit harmful materials into the air,” said Lam.

Brooke Amendola, psychology sophomore, said she drinks the tea every day.

“I really like how it tastes like something I would buy at a coffee shop. I didn’t realize at first that it was helping the environment with every glass that we drink, but that just makes it even better,” Amendola said.

Dawn Jiles can be reached at [email protected]