When did this plant start?
I was first exposed to mate as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Paraguay. Research shows mate can make you feel fuller, reducing cravings. How much do you all drink daily? Studies suggest healthy people should drink 3 cups of 330mL per day, for 60 days. Up to 1.5 liters is considered safe. Even high doses don’t pose much danger.
Unlike cacao and maize, mate’s expansion has been affected by its cultural profile. One catastrophe that tested the Guaraní and flora was the Spanish invasion. Spanish rulers made mate the region’s first cash crop and currency, forcing Indigenous people to work cutting, curing and carrying it to new markets.
Growing Conditions
Top-grade mate is shade-grown and thrives in humid rainforests. As its benefits are recognized, we see mate cultivated widely. This tea has nearly 200 active compounds – vitamins, minerals and antioxidants – versus 144 in green tea.
Best tasting mate grows shaded in rainforests. Sun-grown leaves are less flavorful and nutrient-rich. Wild mate leaves are harvested every other year. In controlled settings leaves grow faster so harvest is annual. It takes 3 kilos of plant to yield 1 kilo of mate.
Cultural Significance
How long have people been drinking this?
Mate can help balance sleep cycles due to antioxidants. Yes, it can be taken before bed if comfortable.
South Americans drink mate all day, not just mornings. Refusing offered mate is seen as rude. It’s common to drink alone mornings.
Drinking excessive mate long-term raises digestive tract cancer risk from carcinogens present. Differences between brands don’t justify calling some elite and others cheap. Drinking mate regularly over time, especially with smoking, may increase cancer risk of mouth, esophagus or lungs due to carcinogens. Argentinians drink up to 14 pounds yearly in 90% of households, mornings with juice or at sunset, increasingly from cans or bottles too. Sharing mate connects people emotionally.
Why So Popular?
Indigenous groups who first made mate centuries ago saw it as a gift. Many still prize it for assumed medicinal value and heritage.
Where is Mate Consumed Today?
It remains widely consumed in Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. Friends gather to drink socially much like coffee or tea.
Antioxidants may provide anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects, however more research on safety is needed as mate contains potentially carcinogenic compounds. Beyond assumed benefits, mate simply has a unique, earthy flavor that South Americans embrace as cultural heritage. Whether enjoyed traditionally or as ordinary tea, mate remains a distinctive presence across South America.