Yerba Mate Overview
Yerba mate is a tree originating in South America. Its leaves have been used for centuries to produce an energizing, caffeine-rich drink. This drink is popular in countries like Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. It provides a natural source of caffeine, although less than coffee. It also contains antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds.
Some research shows yerba mate may help decrease cholesterol, protect the liver, stimulate the brain and protect the heart. However, other studies link yerba mate to increased risk of mouth, throat and lung cancer when consumed regularly at very hot temperatures. More research is needed to conclusively determine its effects.
Yerba Mate Consumption
Drinking this South American tea is common in those countries. It’s often consumed in social settings. The drinking ritual itself is considered almost ceremonial. Argentina has the highest consumption. It’s ingested in 90% of households there.
Unlike coffee or tea, this drink is very nutritious, containing vitamins, minerals and antioxidants like polyphenols and saponins. It also includes mateine, a milder form of caffeine. It can be served hot or cold depending on weather.
Yerba mate is a stimulant beverage consumed in South America. Yerba mate contains caffeine. Possible side effects include jitteriness and increased heart rate. Yerba mate is generally safe during pregnancy in moderation.
Yerba mate has been widely consumed in South America for centuries as a social and medicinal drink. Some believe yerba mate benefits include decreasing cholesterol, protecting the liver, stimulating the brain, and protecting the heart.
Drinking large amounts for a long time increases cancer risk. This risk is higher for people who smoke or drink alcohol.
Fans of green tea may enjoy a traditional yerba mate brew. We’ll explain why to incorporate this tea into daily life.
Yerba mate provides an energy boost similar to coffee, but with less caffeine and more nutrients. It offers mental and physical health benefits.
Traditional Consumption
The traditional method of drinking mate requires care and attention. Argentinians drink mate for breakfast or before sunset, hot or cold.
Yerba mate is an herbal tea made from the leaves and twigs of the mate plant that’s popular in South America. It stimulates the nervous system and is commonly consumed as an energy booster. Yerba mate provides a smooth increase in energy compared to coffee. It delivers a balanced energy boost.
Yerba mate contains caffeine which is linked to increased alertness, improved concentration and enhanced physical performance. The caffeine stimulates dopamine production which provides a "feel good" rush.
Unlike coffee, yerba mate has a steady rise in energy which doesn’t cause jitters.
Yerba mate is traditionally consumed in central and southern South America.
The yerba mate herb is used to make a caffeinated, tea-like beverage. Pure yerba mate is made from the Ilex paraguariensis tree.
Yerba mate is a herbal tea made from the Ilex paraguariensis plant. The leaves are dried and then infused in hot water to make the tea. It is consumed from a container called gourd and sipped with a metal straw that filters the leaf fragments floating on the surface.
Cultivation
Whether you’re in the US, UK or Australia, or anywhere else, as long as you can maintain reasonable control of the plants’ climate and conditions, then it is possible to cultivate yerba mate.
Recommendations
For authentic, loose-leaf yerba mate from Argentina, try Cruz de Malta Yerba Mate. This yerba mate has a stronger, smokier flavor than most, so it’s a great choice if you want a bold flavor profile.
Yerba mate is served in a type of wooden and metal cup, a hollow calabash gourd or an animal horn called guampa. You drink mate with a metal straw, traditionally made from silver, called bombilla in Spanish and bomba in Portuguese.
Preparation
Unlike coffee or tea yerba mate is nutritious and full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Preparing mate is not just putting the yerba in the cup and drink it. There are some rules for it.
This yerba mate drink provides an energizing experience with its organic and fair trade ingredients. In South America, yerba mate is far more than just a drink. It is a social and cultural tradition which brings families and friends together.
Cultivated from the subtropical forest, the Indigenous Guaraní people considered the drink a gift from the gods. Yerba mate also has more polyphenols (anti-inflammatory antioxidants) than green tea and contains vitamin C to help stimulate collagen, as well as heart-healthy antioxidants that help dilate blood vessels.
The most common way of drinking yerba mate is to continuously sip it, for several hours. Each steep releases more flavor and nutrients from the mate. Yerba mate – also known as Ilex paraguariensis – is a type of plant species native to the South American continent.