Yerba Mate Tea: Origins and Preparation

Health Benefits

The antioxidants in this tea help to strengthen and add shine. It can be used to create a nourishing hair mask by mixing the brewed drink with honey and coconut oil. Apply this mixture to your hair, leave it for 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

Having dry, dull hair is common for those who rely on hair dyes, which sometimes damage hair. With this infusion one can revive the lustre, hold color longer. It makes hair bouncy, strong and voluminous.

It can help with weight loss as its caffeine boosts metabolism, burns more energy, helps with fat loss. It delays gastric emptying, increases satiety, reducing appetite. But its use should be monitored by a doctor as part of a balanced diet.

Its caffeine blocks adenosine, prevents fatigue and drowsiness. It increases neurotransmitters like adrenaline, noradrenaline, giving an energizing effect.

Drinking this South American tea can reduce unhealthy cholesterol, boost energy levels more balanced than caffeine. It is sourced from organic, ethical, eco-conscious plantations in Brazil.

Despite low caffeine, you should limit cups per day. It can improve exercise performance, as it makes fat burners more sensitive to workouts. Evidence suggests it protects against diabetes.

Comparison to Other Drinks

Compared to tea and coffee, it is healthier with more benefits. It prevents diseases, is antioxidant, regulates cholesterol and blood pressure, improves digestion, gives natural energy.

Growing and Processing

Controlling weed growth without herbicides is challenging when growing this organic tea. Like its natural forest environment, dense foliage makes it difficult for weeds to populate the ground level.

This ancient drink, often called the "tea of the gods." Grown in Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, its leaves and twigs are dried over a fire in processing. With a flavor similar to coffee, it is often described as chocolatey, earthy, lemony, nutty.

Consumption Customs

The leaves are used to make a tea-like infusion called mate. Mate has a bitter, earthy taste, similar to some teas. It contains caffeine and other stimulants.

Mate is traditionally drunk from a gourd using a special straw called a bombilla. The gourd is filled with mate leaves, then hot water (not boiling) is poured over them. The bombilla filters out the leaves as the infusion is sipped.

Mate can also be prepared using modern methods like French presses, teapots, and tea infusers. It’s often consumed in social settings, with the gourd and bombilla passed around a group.

Drinking moderate amounts of mate daily (up to three cups) is considered safe. Excess consumption may cause side effects like insomnia due to the caffeine content. Mate can be enjoyed hot or chilled as an iced tea called tereré.

This tea grows on a holly tree in parts of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. People often drink it socially in groups. The etiquette around mate is ritualistic. Drinkers sip hot mate from a shared gourd using a special straw that filters out leaves.

Other Uses

This drink fights bacteria like E. coli, preventing food poisoning. Its polyphenols have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial properties against infections. It also treats skin conditions like dandruff, rashes.

It has caffeine in it, which is good for skincare, and it is also rich in vitamins and antioxidants and possesses powerful antibacterial properties.

Yerba Mate extract is a natural skin lubricant and using it regularly can help you get soft and healthy looking skin. It also aids in strengthening your hair and making it bouncy and voluminous.

For authentic drink, try Cruz De Malta with its stronger, smokier flavor. Taragui Yerba Mate is a more mild-mannered option.

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