The South American drink is made from the dried leaves of a holly plant native to Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. The leaves are steeped in hot water to produce a tea-like beverage often consumed through a metal straw called a bombilla from a hollowed gourd known as a mate.
The drink contains caffeine and nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and polyphenols. It has become popular worldwide in recent years as a stimulating, healthy alternative to coffee and tea.
The name "mate" refers to both the beverage itself as well as the drinking vessel traditionally used to serve it. The word yerba means "herb" in Spanish.
The South American drink raises metabolism and improves mood due to its balanced combination of mental and physical stimulation. It continues to be an integral part of traditional culture in much of South America where drinking mate is a popular social custom shared among friends and family daily.
The best tasting drink comes from shade-grown leaves rather than direct sunlight. The beverage is prepared by first filling the mate gourd and shaking it so the leaves filter towards the bottom. Hot water (not boiling) is then poured in and the mate is passed around in a circle to share.
The South American drink has seen increased popularity worldwide in recent years due to awareness of its stimulating qualities, cultural traditions, and potential health benefits like increased energy, weight loss, and disease prevention.
Mate is not matcha tea. Mate is from South America. Matcha is from the Far East. The indigenous Guaraní first cultivated and consumed the South American drink. After the Jesuits discovered its potential, it became widespread.
The drink is made from the yerba plant. It has caffeine like coffee and is steeped like tea. But mate is shared from the same gourd and bombilla. There are 4 elements:
- yerba
- gourd
- bombilla
- flask
The most common preparation is with hot water brewing the leaves in the gourd. Traditionally, mate is shared by two people using the same gourd and bombilla. The "cebador" fills the gourd and passes it.
The drink doesn’t make you jittery but has the same caffeine as coffee. It has adaptogenic properties to regulate the body. The caffeine boost is like coffee without the crash. The South American beverage has health benefits like antioxidants, anti-inflammation, lowered cholesterol, improved insulin resistance, and weight loss.
The leaves are harvested, roasted, dried, matured, and sieved before drinking. Preparing mate is a relaxing ritual.
The drink is made by filling half the gourd with leaves then adding hot water drunk through a metal straw that acts as a sieve. Thermo flasks keep the water warm for refills.
Given the stimulants, the South American drink increases blood flow, helps breathing, and relieves fatigue. Perfect before/after exercise.
Something called yerba mate is on shelves but the real thing will never catch on in some regions. The Spanish quickly fell for it after arriving in South America in the 1500s.
Yerba mate is an ancient South American herb, the main ingredient of an iconic drink in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. More than just a drink, it is a symbol steeped in tradition and history, consumed everywhere in Argentina and Uruguay. The Guarani named it “ka’a” meaning “herb”.
Sharing mate represents friendship – it brings people together. There is a tradition of conveying hidden meanings through certain preparations:
- bitter mate symbolizes strength
- sweet foaming mate symbolizes affection
- boiling mate symbolizes hate
Argentina has the highest consumption. Surveys show it is the most important symbol of national identity. Indigenous tribes used it mostly for stamina and medicinal purposes before the Spanish arrived.
Its caffeine gives an energy boost but is different than coffee or tea. The South American drink contains antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It helps reduce bad cholesterol and triglycerides.
Mate production and distribution impacts local economies as sustainable practices benefit the environment and support families’ livelihoods. For many outside South America it is a new, healthy discovery.
Yerba mate is a South American tea made from mate plant leaves. It contains caffeine, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Indigenous peoples saw it as a gift from the gods and consumed it for its energizing qualities before European colonization.
In South America, drinking mate symbolizes hospitality and friendship. It’s often served in a hollowed gourd and sipped through a metal straw with a filter, allowing the leaves to be infused in hot (not boiling) water.
With 24 vitamins and minerals, 15 amino acids, and antioxidants, the South American drink is more nutritious than green tea. It provides an energy lift similar to coffee without jitteriness.
Yerba mate can boost energy, sharpen mental clarity, aid weight loss efforts, and support heart health. It also has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and cholesterol lowering properties. When lemonade replaces the water, the drink is called tereré.