Storage
The tea should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place in an airtight opaque container. It can last 1-2 years this way. Do not refrigerate the tea or store it with coffee and spices, as this can transfer flavors.
Signs the tea has spoiled include unpleasant taste, odor, appearance, and reduced stimulating effects. Fresh the tea has an earthy, grassy aroma.
Brewing Tips
Avoid overdiffusing the leaves. This releases excess tannins, causing bitter taste and reduced stimulating effects. Use half a liter of water per serving. Letting used the tea sit too long between pours can clog the bombilla.
Health Effects
The stimulating effects of the tea start within minutes and can last 2+ hours depending on amount consumed. Those with glaucoma should avoid the tea, as it can increase eye pressure for 90+ minutes. Drink no more than 3 cups per day. Pregnant women should not drink the tea.
The tea is a traditional South American drink made from the dried leaves and twigs of the holly tree-like plant (ilex paraguariensis). It’s enjoyed by steeping the leaves and twigs in hot water. This beverage has been consumed for centuries and is known for its unique earthy flavor and health benefits.
The amount of the tea needed per cup depends on personal preferences and factors like desired strength. For a stronger brew, use more of the leaves. For a milder tea, use less. Avoid constant consumption. 2-3 drinks at most per day is recommended, ideally spacing them out to the late afternoon. Avoid evening consumption if caffeine sensitive.
The tea contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and natural caffeine. It can help boost immunity, improve digestion, increase mental clarity and provide jitter-free, long-lasting energy, especially when replacing coffee intake. It also has diuretic and mildly laxative effects to reduce fluid retention and support kidney function.
Some consume 1-4 liters of the tea per day in parts of South America. Start with 1-2 cups if caffeine sensitive and adjust amounts from there based on personal tolerance. Both smoked and non-smoked varieties exist, but almost all use some heat during production to preserve the greenish color. The tea can be consumed hot or cold and prepared in ways like tea bags, French press or lattes. It’s quite versatile.
When stored properly in a cool, dry place in an airtight container, the tea can last 1-2 years. Check occasionally for mold, smell changes or discoloration. Discard if any signs of spoilage. The fridge can also store it for months. Freezing in an airtight container works but can cause freezer burn. The tea accessories enhance the experience but aren’t necessary.
The tea is traditionally consumed in central and southern regions of South America, primarily in Paraguay, as well as in Argentina, Uruguay, southern and central-western Brazil, the Chaco region of Bolivia and southern Chile. The origins of the tea are filled with folklore. The tea is used to make a beverage known as mate. When served cold, the drink is called tereré in Guaraní. It was first cultivated and used by the indigenous Guaraní people and in some Tupí communities in southern Brazil, prior to European colonization. Unless you are super sensitive to caffeine, you will feel the body and mind stimulation long after drinking the tea. Coffee drinkers, however, often suffer a caffeine crash at some point. The tea has adaptogenic properties, which means it can regulate the body’s systems.
A single pack of leaves can last you a lot of drinking sessions. If you prepare the tea with a tea strainer or teapot instead of a gourd and bombilla, then a kilogram will last you much longer. When preparing the tea this way, the serving size is similar to that of other teas. You will use 1 tablespoon of the leaves per 8 ounces of water. If one tablespoon of leaves comes out to around 3-5 grams, then you can get a total of around 250 servings from just one kilo! Or in other words, one pack will last you over half a year when consumed daily.
The caffeine in the tea is lower than coffee, but higher than tea, averaging at about 85 mg caffeine/8 oz of drink. That’s a whole lot if you’re drinking several servings throughout the day, and continuously replenishing the leaves. The caffeine helps your body’s reflexes, and improves alertness, including mental focus. The tea contains caffeine, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. In fact, the tea is consumed 6 to 1 over coffee in these countries.
Be prepared for a long wait before you get a harvest from your plant. Typically they can be harvested after around 2 to 3 years of cultivating. First propagating can be accomplished from the seedlings. However, if you want to grow from seeds, then it’s not something that tends to be available off the shelf at your local garden store, but you can get them online at Amazon here. This will get you around 10 seeds. But, as with the plant below, they do also tend to come with additional growing and maintenance guides. From what I’ve learned it’s far easier to purchase a pre-cultivated plant, you can check Amazon here for the latest price.
The tea is traditionally consumed in parts of South America.
When served cold, the tea is called tereré. The tea is usually prepared in a container called a gourd and sipped through a metal straw that has a filter on the lower end. This allows the leaves to be filtered out as the liquid is consumed.
The gourds are available in various shapes, sizes and materials including wood, glass, metal and decorated natural gourds. The natural gourds need to be prepared before first use by scraping out the bitter-tasting inner skin. Many people cure their gourd over hot coals or sand to achieve an inner surface ideal for brewing.
To prepare the tea, the gourd is typically filled about three quarters full with dry leaves then hot or cold water is added depending on if a hot tea or tereré is desired. The initial tea produced from the first filling of water is strong in flavor but less pleasant in taste. As more water is added, the flavor improves. A gourd and serving of the tea can be refilled many times until the flavor fades. The number of quality refills depends on the herb used and personal preference.
Drinking excessive amounts of the tea may have health risks so moderation is recommended. The tea naturally contains caffeine and other stimulants that may cause insomnia, anxiety or irritability in some. Pregnant women are advised to avoid consuming the tea.