Overview of Ilex paraguariensis
Ilex paraguariensis is a plant native to South America. Its leaves are used to make a popular tea-like beverage. Roasting brings out a rich, chocolatey flavor. It also enhances the flavor profile. There are various roasting methods, like air roasting and smoke roasting. Each creates a unique flavor and aroma.
In South America, Ilex paraguariensis is more popular than coffee. It contains caffeine and antioxidants. These provide many health benefits, like anti-cancer properties and reduced inflammation.
Ilex paraguariensis is made by harvesting leaves from trees in the jungle. The leaves are roasted, cured, and ground. It’s possible to grow it in other countries if the climate can be controlled.
Drinking large amounts daily, especially when hot, may increase cancer risk. But it is safe for occasional use. The caffeine provides energy and focus.
Effects and Experience
Does this South American plant get you buzzed?
- Does it get you buzzed? The mental clarity from it and coffee are different. It leaves your head warm and floaty with a steady rise and decline. Secondly, it causes euphoria. It gives an euphoric feeling that’s similar to eating chocolate.
- This drink provides an energizing experience with its organic and fair trade ingredients. It has a unique flavor mix offering a refreshing alternative to energy drinks.
- Research found sipping it can help slim down, like green tea. They can’t pinpoint why it’s great for weight loss, but the caffeine likely contributed to fat-burning effects.
- It Can Improve Your Digestion due to its choleretic effect, drinking it regularly can help soothe digestion problems.
- At this stage, your palate is accustomed to the tea to the point you taste variety of notes and flavors.
What Does It Taste Like?
- Earth
- Grass
- Dirt/Soil
- Butter
It also goes great with herbs and spices. Because it contains caffeine, people think drinking it is like coffee. But it is more than a caffeinated tea. Argentinians drink hot or cold mate depending on weather. Mate has become common from cans or bottles to drink anytime.
Global Popularity and Culture
Today, it’s consumed in parts of South America and Middle East. You’ll see its name written as "mate". The drink is bitter and vegetal, highly distinctive in taste, almost euphoric due to caffeine. The ritual is Yerba Mate and refers to the drinking beverage. It requires a dried gourd, thermos and bombilla. It boosts energy without the crash, provides cancer-fighting antioxidants, helps lose weight and promote digestion. With all the evidence, our only question is: why not ditch coffee and tea for it?
It remains popular where it was cultivated by Indigenous communities around Paraguay. It’s now consumed worldwide. Much of it is cultivated in its native regions like parts of Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. It is native to South America and is used for the drink of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Southern Brazil consumed 6 to 1 over coffee.
Health Benefits
Why does this South American plant make me high?
It is traditionally consumed in central and southern regions of South America, primarily in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, southern and central-western Brazil, and southern Chile. It provides an energy boost similar to coffee, but with less caffeine and more nutrients. It contains flavonoids, saponins, vitamins, tannins, and polyphenols. These compounds can help with preventing oxidative damage, regulating energy metabolism, and modulating antioxidant enzymes.
For those who take Adderall recreationally, replace it with this nature’s version more beneficial and less harmful.
Once brewed, it contains more antioxidants than any other tea-based drink.
The taste can be overwhelming at first, but it is an herbal infusion. I would describe it as a bitter, earthy, tobaccoey, sweeter green tea but bold like a black tea with effects of coffee.
It has a diuretic and slightly laxative effect, reducing fluid retention and improving renal function. This helps eliminate toxins and purify the body naturally.
Research has found that it can improve your exercise performance. Consuming it increases the beneficial effects workouts have on your metabolism. Evidence also suggests it can help protect people from diabetes.
It will provide you with a sense of mental alertness that you don’t get with coffee or tea. It’s super healthy, valuable for body and mind performance.
Green vs Roasted
What is the difference between green and roasted it?
It has a strong, earthy flavor. The flavor has hints of grass, wood, fruit, or citrus. It contains caffeine so it energizes like coffee. But it does not make you jittery. It has health benefits like antioxidants. It also helps digestion.
There are many good brands. Good brands have good flavor and responsible production. They are reasonably priced and easy to prepare. If you are new to it, try a blended one. Blended ones have less stems. If you like green tea, try a traditional one.
It is an herbal tea, not a true tea. It has as much caffeine as coffee but no crash later. It stimulates mind and body for longer than coffee. It balances the body’s systems.
It is from the Ilex paraguariensis plant. It is grown in South America.
Though different plants, both have great potential.
Flavor profiles
- Brazilian it is sweeter. It seems grassy and fresh, like matcha tea. It has a sweet pea flavor.