What is Mate?
Mate is a traditional South American drink made from the leaves and stems of the yerba mate plant. It contains caffeine and other compounds. Consuming mate can benefit heart and digestive health, reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. However, it’s recommended to consume in moderation.
Mate is served hot or cold. It has caffeine that can increase alertness. Drinking mate isn’t linked to health problems in most adults. Some studies suggest beneficial effects on cholesterol, weight loss, inflammation and cancer risk. But more research is needed.
Health Benefits
Mate can improve alertness and focus. Brewing temperature impacts caffeine levels and energizing effects.
I was unable to find studies proving mate helps cure insomnia or improves sleep. My experience is drinking mate in the evening can keep you awake due to the caffeine.
Mate Plant Facts
The mate plant grows over 8 meters tall in the wild. It has many health advantages attributed to its compounds. Some sweeten it but "true mate" uses just mate leaves and hot water. You can also drink it cold, like with orange juice.
How to Prepare Mate
The amount of mate per cup depends on personal preference and desired strength. Too little won’t have much flavor; too much can lead to a bitter, astringent brew. As a baseline, use around 1-2 tablespoons of loose leaf per 6-8 oz of water. Adjust to taste.
Mate is consumed socially in South America. It has a unique, earthy, grassy flavor profile that can be bitter if brewed too strong. Preparing it properly takes practice but is rewarding. You can reuse the leaves a few times before flavor fades. Any container works; you don’t need a traditional gourd. Enjoy in moderation, as excessive consumption can cause side effects.
Can you leave mate out?
Yerba leaves or tea can be combined with other ingredients to make delicious mixtures. Traditionally, mate is prepared in a dried gourd and steeped 10 minutes before pouring into another cup. While some chew leaves, steeping unlocks its full potential.
Mate caffeine content depends on the brewing method. Factors like this also affect caffeine levels in coffee and tea.
- Mate is an infusion of yerba (dried mate plant) and hot water.
- Yerba is dried leaves and twigs from the Ilex paraguayensis tree.
- Mate is generally shared – the same gourd and bombilla (metal straw) are passed around.
Fill a french press with yerba. Add cold water covering all leaves. Add hot water. Let sit two minutes. Press plunger. Pour into a cup. Enjoy!
Yerba can’t be smoked. It originated with the Guarani people who’ve consumed it for thousands of years. It later spread to Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay where it’s a daily staple drink.
Try different steeping techniques to discover new ways to enjoy mate. Add natural sweeteners or flavors to further enhance it.
To drink mate you need four things:
- a gourd which can be simple or elaborate,
- yerba leaves,
- a bombilla (metal straw), and
- a thermos to keep water hot for refills.
The mate plant is native to southern South America and is popular in Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Chile.
Mate Drinking Etiquette & Culture
There’s etiquette to drinking mate. It’s not simply a drink but a tradition steeped in history. Mate must be shared. The same gourd and bombilla are passed around a social gathering.
Mate can be stored in its original sealed packaging, kept in a dry, cool, dark area not exposed to temperature changes.
What is Mate Tea?
A caffeinated beverage is made from the yerba mate herb. Mate is a tea-like infusion used to make a beverage, but it does not contain actual tea leaves. It has a strong earthy flavor with a grassy, mildly bitter undertone and a eucalyptus scent.
Mate provides an energy boost similar to coffee, but with less caffeine and more nutrients. It offers "the strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the euphoria of chocolate," as described by indigenous South Americans. It has been shown to have the highest number of antioxidants compared to other Mexican medicinal plants.
How to Brew Mate
You can brew mate just as you would any other tea, using water heated to 165 to 175 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow it to steep for three to five minutes. It’s important not to use boiling water, which can result in a bitter taste.
Potential Health Risks
Drinking large amounts of mate for long periods may increase cancer risk, especially for smokers and drinkers. Consuming spoiled mate can also lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or allergic reactions.
Mate, like regular tea, doesn’t expire but rather ages. It can go bad if you store it in poor conditions, like leaving it completely exposed to the air, or in a very humid place where it might grow mold. I recommend keeping it in paper bags, or a clean mason jar, away from direct sunlight and heat. You should still find it in good shape, even after a couple of years.
When you prepare mate tea the traditional way using a gourd, bombilla, and loose leaf yerba mate, it can be quite strong. On the other hand, using mate tea bags will give you a much milder infusion.
Mate, or Paraguay tea, is a type of herbal tea prepared from the leaves of Ilex paraguariensis–an evergreen tree that grows in South America. Its potential health benefits include antioxidant and energy-boosting effects. Still, some research suggests that drinking large amounts can increase your risk of developing certain cancers.
One possible explanation is that mate contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known to be carcinogenic. More investigation needs to be done into the safety and side effects. Mate has a strong earthy flavor with a grassy, mildly bitter undertone. It also has a eucalyptus scent, which some people may find unsettling at first.