Yerba maté is a tea. It has caffeine. To make the drink, use a bombilla. This is a straw with a filter.
Put one or two tablespoons of yerba maté per cup. Adjust to find your preferred strength. Reuse leaves up to several times per day.
Drink two to three cups at most. Avoid evening consumption if caffeine sensitive. Yerba maté has benefits like vitamins but also side effects so research this.
You can make the tea in a French press. Put about 30 grams per 500 ml French press. This gives 3 presses.
Use 170°F water not boiling to avoid bitterness. Add both hot and cool water to improve flavor. Drink from a gourd for tradition or stainless steel cup for practicality.
Yerba maté gives an energy boost similar to coffee with less caffeine and more nutrients. It improves mental and physical health through antioxidants and other mechanisms.
In the U.S., Canada and Europe avid drinkers consume 1-2 liters daily. Amount depends on tolerance and preference. Yerba maté may be an adaptogen.
Yerba maté is a traditional South American drink made by steeping dried leaves and twigs of the yerba maté plant (Ilex paraguariensis) in hot water. This beverage has been enjoyed for centuries and is known for its unique earthy flavor and health benefits.
The amount needed per cup varies depending on your personal preferences and how strong or weak you want your brew. Some ideas:
- Gourd – The traditional cup is made from a hollowed gourd.
- Bombilla – A metal straw with a filter to strain out leaf fragments.
- Yerba maté – The dried leaves and twigs used to make the tea.
- Hot water – Water is poured over the leaves to extract their flavor.
Yerba maté can be served hot or cold. To prepare, fill the gourd one-third full of leaves then add hot water. The tea can be topped off with more hot water several times before replacing the leaves.
Yerba maté is traditionally consumed in central and southern regions of South America, primarily in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, southern and central-western Brazil, and southern Chile.
In United States, Canada, and Europe it’s common for an avid drinker to consume 1–2 liters daily. The amount you drink depends on your preference and tolerance. As an herb it is consumed without hesitation.
Avoid constant consumption – 2-3 servings at most, lasting through the late afternoon. Avoid evening consumption, especially if caffeine-sensitive.
Yerba maté has many vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, saponins and more. Too much of anything is rarely good.
At 85 mg of caffeine per cup, yerba maté contains less caffeine than coffee but more than tea.