So you heard about yerba mate but don’t know the best way to get started. What if you could have someone show you the ropes? Here’s what you’ll need: Looseleaf yerba mate, mate gourd and bombilla. But the most common way of drinking yerba mate is to continuously sip it, for several hours and adding more leaves or water as necessary.
Recommended Daily Amounts
Beginners should start with about 1-2 cups per day. As your body becomes accustomed to the drink, you can gradually increase the amount.
Drinking Yerba Mate Socially
Yerba mate is enjoyed in a social gathering. Several people get together, stare one gourd with just one bombilla. The gourd gets passed around, and this creates a bond between the people gathered there. The traditional way to drink it involves only a few components: a gourd, a metal straw (or bombilla), a bag of yerba mate, and a thermos of hot water. Before you drink it, it is necessary to prepare it in a few simple steps:
- Fill the mate cup with yerba mate.
- Add a little of warm water for the leaves to swell.
- Put the bombilla.
- Enjoy.
"When you drink coffee for the first time, you don’t drink it black because, if you do, you don’t drink it ever again,” From understanding the different types of yerba mate to exploring traditional drinking customs and food pairings, I’ll give you all the information you need to become a yerba mate expert.
How Much to Drink
How much mate should I drink per day?
In general, most people report feeling instantly more awake after drinking mate early in the morning. If you have to stay up late or start your day early, a cup of yerba is just what you need to feel instantly more alert, clearer, and more focused. Most people sensitive to caffeine experience a buzz or an energized feeling after consuming just one cup of mate. Some may take longer to experience that buzz.
The caffeine and polyphenols in yerba maté can lower iron absorption by up to 30%, depending on drink timing. This can help those with too much iron.
Yerba mate has risks if you drink too much for too long. It may increase chances of some cancers. So moderation is key. Enjoy yerba mate’s freshness and energy. But listen to your body.
Does Yerba Mate Give You a Buzz?
In general, most people report feeling instantly more awake after drinking mate early in the morning. On cold days, a cup of yerba mate can warm you up. If you have to stay up late or start your day early, a cup of yerba is just what you need to feel instantly more alert, clearer, and more focused. Some may take longer to experience that buzz. Yerba aficionados usually report feeling more cheerful and happier after drinking yerba.
In United States, Canada, and Europe, it’s common for a yerba mate drinker to consume 1–2 liters daily.
Yerba mate provides an energy boost similar to coffee, but with less caffeine and more nutrients. It’s been said to offer the “strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the euphoria of chocolate.” Indigenous South Americans called it “the drink of the gods.”
To drink yerba mate, suck on the bombilla like a straw. Once done just refill with hot water. You can get 20 washes from a cup. Most keep a thermos of hot water to continue filling up throughout the day.
What is One Serving of Yerba Mate?
Yerba mate is an herb used to make a traditional South American drink. As an herb like mint or parsley, consider how much yerba mate to consume as you would mint tea. Research on health risks shows yerba mate may cause mouth, esophagus or lung cancer, especially if you smoke and drink it regularly over extended periods.
As a beginner, start with the right equipment: loose leaf yerba mate, a gourd, and a metal straw. Avoid constant yerba mate consumption. Limit to 2-3 drinks at most per day, avoiding the evening.
Sharing yerba mate in South America forges emotional links between people, taking them back to their roots. It’s ingested in most households in Argentina. They usually drink it for breakfast with juice or before sunset, hot or cold. But mate has become popular canned or bottled to drink anytime.