The herbal tea is a caffeinated drink from South America. It is made from the leaves of a holly tree called Ilex paraguariensis. The leaves are dried and steeped in hot water to make the tea. Yerba mate contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids. It provides caffeine for energy.
The Guarani people first used the herbal tea in the forests of Paraguay and Brazil. They chewed the leaves or made a tea to boost stamina. The drink was part of cultural traditions. Farmers and warriors drank it for physical strength. The native people also used it for medicinal purposes and spiritual ceremonies.
The herbal tea spread to Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil, where it remains popular. People sip it from a gourd using a metal straw. Sharing the drink from one person to another fosters friendship.
The herbal tea has potential health benefits but needs more research on safety. It may help fight fatigue, aid weight loss, and ease depression. However, it contains compounds that may increase cancer risk. Moderation is advised until more is known.
The nutrients in the herbal tea provide a balanced caffeine boost. The energy lasts longer than coffee without an afternoon crash. It has a unique flavor between tea and coffee. The traditional ritual of sipping from a gourd makes it a popular social drink.
Active Ingredients in Yerba Mate
The herbal tea is claimed to have the strength of coffee, health benefits of tea and euphoria of chocolate, due to its pharmacological composition. But does it increase cognitive function enough to be considered beneficial? Its leaves contain xanthines, like caffeine and theobromine. These compounds are responsible for the stimulating effects and somewhat bitter taste. It also contains small amounts of vitamin C, thiamine and some minerals.
Sharing the herbal tea in a circle with friends and family is a ritual of hospitality. In South America it is everywhere from grandmothers sipping it at bus stops to teenagers sipping it outside night clubs. The grocery stores have an aisle with many different brands.
Prized for medicinal qualities, the herbal tea connects to South America’s history and Indigenous heritage.
Health Benefits of Yerba Mate
The herbal tea is produced from holly leaves from an evergreen plant native to only a few regions in South America. The best tasting mate comes from leaves grown in the shade of the rainforest. In a controlled environment, leaves grow more quickly, so they are harvested once each winter.
It provides an energy boost similar to coffee, but with less caffeine and more nutrients. It offers mental and physical health benefits. Billions of people start the day with coffee or tea, but in South America, people wake up with the herbal tea. It’s said to offer the strength of coffee, health of tea, and euphoria of chocolate.
The traditional way to drink it is to sip it from a dried gourd called a calabash, using a metal straw with a filter. This prevents ingesting leaves. It remains popular in South America, where it’s common to drink communally and pass it around.
Evidence suggests high doses are needed for appetite suppression. Of its 196 active compounds, 177 are shared with green tea. While tea and coffee have more caffeine, it has more antioxidants. Studies show it contains up to 90% more metabolism-boosting nutrients than green tea.
Antioxidants in Yerba Mate
The herbal tea contains more antioxidants than green tea, including 11 polyphenols. Polyphenols provide health benefits: improving metabolism, brain, and immune function. It relaxes blood vessels which lowers blood pressure, but its caffeine content may increase blood pressure. Researchers found it had higher antioxidant levels and 90% more metabolism-boosting nutrients than green tea. Good quality it costs far less than matcha tea.
Its antioxidants may strengthen the immune system. However, direct immune system effects are unconfirmed. It is rich in polyphenols with antioxidant properties that interact with free radicals. This may reduce risk of chronic diseases.
Compared to the herbal tea, guayusa has less antioxidant content based on ORAC values. Both provide health benefits from antioxidants. In South America, it is widely consumed by all ages.
The herbal tea has more antioxidants than green tea due to high polyphenol levels, mainly caffeoyl derivatives. This helps maintain normal blood sugar. Anti-inflammatories like it may prevent diseases caused by chronic inflammation.
It contains caffeine, antioxidants and more. Consult your doctor before consuming it. Research shows it has anti-carcinogenic properties but other research links it with increased cancer risk when consumed very hot.