A process for preparing a clarified maté extract, a maté beverage base formulation and a maté beverage are disclosed. A maté extract, which is rich in natural caffeine, theobromine, theophylline and antioxidant compounds is clarified by adding gelatin and silica sol and freezing the resulting extract. The frozen extract is then thawed and a clarified liquid supernatant is separated from the solids to obtain a clarified maté extract. The clarified maté extract is used to make a maté beverage formulation which may be used to make maté beverages, such as carbonated maté beverages.
