The herbal tea is a tea made from the leaves of a South American plant. The tea can be served hot or cold. It has caffeine and may have health benefits. These possible benefits include weight loss, lower cholesterol, less inflammation, and lower cancer risk. But more research is needed.
In South America, people often drink 1-4 liters of the herbal tea per day. In North America and Europe, avid drinkers may consume 1-2 liters daily. How much you drink depends on your tolerance. Studies suggest healthy adults can safely drink up to 3 cups daily for 60 days. Even higher amounts are likely safe.
Some South Americans drink the herbal infusion all day long – from morning until night. The tea is deeply ingrained in their culture. When offered mate, it’s rude to refuse. But we don’t need to drink it as often as they do.
It’s possible to grow plants outside South America with proper climate control. But large-scale cultivation can be challenging. Wild-grown, organic herbal tea is often preferred.
Why is the herbal tea so expensive?
The herbal tea is produced from holly leaves from an evergreen plant that is native to only a few regions in South America. The plant can grow in different settings, but the best tasting mate comes from leaves that have been grown in the shade of the rainforest.
The most common way of drinking the herbal tea is to continuously sip it, for several hours and adding more leaves or water as necessary. Each steep releases more flavor and nutrients from the mate, so this really is a drink you can pull on all day. The herbal tea is an herb native to South America and is used to make the national drink of Argentina, Paraguay, Uraguay and Southern Brazil.
Whether you’re looking for more brands to try or just a store able to ship to your country so you can finally get a taste of this herb, some stores below have you covered. Keep in mind that aside from traditional herbal tea (dried leaves), there are also drinks (like energy drinks) and ready-made tea bags.
Which one is the best herbal tea?
The herbal tea drink from South America brewed from the leaves of a plant called Ilex paraguariensis. It has an earthy flavor and contains caffeine for an energizing effect. The herbal tea is often drank from a gourd using a metal straw called a bombilla.
There are many brands and flavors of the herbal tea to choose from. Some good options for beginners include:
- Rosamonte and Playadito from Argentina, which have a smooth, mild flavor
- Organic herbal tea tea bags
To brew the herbal tea, simply add the loose leaves to a gourd or teapot and pour in hot (not boiling) water. Let it steep for a few minutes before drinking with a bombilla. The leaves can be refilled with water several times before losing flavor.
Is guayaki real herbal tea?
Guayaki is one of the best brands in the United States. Their goal was to spread the herbal tea to as many people within the United States as possible.
The herbal tea is produced from holly leaves from an evergreen plant that is native to only a few regions in South America. The plant can grow in different settings, but the best tasting mate comes from leaves that have been grown in the shade of the rainforest. Traditionally, the herbal tea is infused with hot water in a hollowed-out gourd. The liquid is filtered through a metal straw called a bombilla and is usually shared among friends who take a sip and pass it along. This tradition has been passed down for generations: the herbal infusion awakens the mind, brings people together and creates a community that stretches around the world.