Mate is an herbal tea from South America. The plant and drink originated there. Mate contains caffeine unlike most herbal teas. It has a strong, distinctive flavor. Traditionally, mate is served in a gourd with a special straw. The gourd is called a mate. The straw is a bombilla. I make mate in a teapot and pour it into a cup.
Energizing Effects
Mate increases energy levels. It contains caffeine which makes you feel more awake. Mate and coffee have about the same amount of caffeine. One cup of mate has 78 milligrams. One cup of coffee has 85 milligrams. Mate also provides antioxidants.
Health Effects
Some studies link drinking a lot of mate over a long time to certain cancers. More research is needed to confirm this. If you are sensitive to caffeine, drink mate in moderation.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not drink yerba mate. The same goes for people on some medications. Ask your doctor.
Mate is a drink made by steeping dried leaves from the plant in hot water. It tastes somewhat like green tea, with hints of tobacco and oak. The simplest method for many is to treat mate like any other tea.
Multiple Infusions
When drinking from a gourd you can refill it as many times as needed until all the flavor is gone. Depending on the gourd size and the amount used, this can range from 10 to 30 refills. But reusing yerba from the previous day is different.
Brewing Tips
To prepare mate, use fresh spring water heated to about 160-180°F. Just moisten the mate first before adding the hot water. Tea balls also work to brew mate.
Some people brew mate in cold water instead of hot. You can enjoy it this way, but hot water better releases the flavor.
When drinking mate, go slow at first. This lets the flavor develop and you experience it fully. Subsequent steepings bring out additional notes from earthy to sweet and nutty. The mate releases different flavors each time.
Caffeine Content
The caffeine in mate provides alertness without jitters. Argentinians drink it socially, often sharing a gourd and bombilla (silver straw).
The caffeine content of mate depends on the brewing method. One cup of traditional mate tea can contain almost twice the caffeine of coffee. So mate can provide a stimulating lift.
Tolerance affects whether drinking mate before bed disturbs sleep. Mate drinkers accustomed to daily consumption likely sleep fine after an evening mate. But novice drinkers may experience disruption. Morning mate consumption rarely impacts sleep.