What is Mate?
This traditional drink is made from the dried leaves of an evergreen holly, native to South American. Drinking it is a social event. Sharing this drink from a traditional gourd is friendship. Brands can leave a nasty taste. So I created a list of the five best brands, a must-try for everyone.
It comes from an evergreen plant native to South America. The best tasting is from leaves grown in the rainforest shade. These leaves are more flavorful and nutrient-rich. The wild leaves are harvested every other year. In a controlled environment, the leaves grow quickly and are harvested each winter.
It contains caffeine like coffee and green tea. But it has differences from these popular beverages. The indigenous Guarani people considered the drink a gift from the gods.
Health Effects
Drinking too much can cause excess caffeine symptoms — anxiety, nervousness. It keeps you regular so too much can have a laxative effect. Due to caffeine, it’s not recommended if pregnant, breastfeeding or have anxiety issues. It increases cancer risk if you smoke or drink heavily.
Sharing it is friendship.
It’s used to make the national drink of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Southern Brazil. It was known to indigenous peoples as an herb “from the gods”, used for stamina.
Preparation
The preparation involves steeping the dried leaves in water, like tea. It has a flavor similar to green tea but more herbal and grassy.
Why So Popular?
Why is this South American drink so addictive?
The leaves are typically dried over a fire, then steeped in hot water to make the tea. It contains caffeine, although the amount can vary. The effects of its caffeine tend to be milder and more sustained compared to coffee.
It is usually served in a hollowed gourd or cup called a guampa or mate. A metal straw with a filter on one end, called a bombilla, is used to drink the tea. Traditionally, hot but not boiling water is poured into the cup containing the leaves. The bombilla is then inserted into the mixture. More hot water can be continuously added to produce several steepings from the same leaves. This sharing of one mate gourd among several people promotes social bonding.
In addition to its pleasant flavor, it has several potential health benefits. It provides antioxidants, can boost energy and mental focus, and may support weight loss due to increased fat burning and metabolism. The caffeine may cause side effects if consumed excessively, but is generally well tolerated, especially when replacing coffee. Overall, incorporating it into one’s routine can be an enjoyable way to improve well-being.
Comparison to Green Tea
Is this South American drink just green tea?
It is used to make the national drink of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Southern Brazil. It was known as an herb “from the gods”. It was used for physical stamina and medicinal purposes.
It is a plant grown in South America used for making herbal tea. Green tea is made from a plant mostly grown in Asia and Africa, used for making all real tea types.
It can be enjoyed by continuously sipping it for several hours, adding more leaves or water as necessary. Each steep releases more flavor and nutrients. It is often enjoyed in social gatherings in nature. Several people share one gourd with one straw. The gourd gets passed around, creating a bond.
Does Mate Give You a Buzz?
It has caffeine and provides an energy boost. The effects are milder and more balanced than coffee, as it contains about a third of the caffeine. It promotes alertness, concentration and physical performance.
Unlike coffee, it provides steady energy stimulation without jitters or crashes. Avid drinkers may drink 1-2 liters per day.
It’s traditionally served hot in a gourd with a metal straw, but can also be enjoyed cold. The drink is native to and wildly popular in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
It may provide health benefits like boosted energy, stronger digestion and immunity. But more research is still needed on its effectiveness. Consuming too much can cause side effects like stomach upset, nervousness and insomnia.