What is yerba mate?
Mate, also known as yerba mate, is an herbal tea made by steeping dried leaves from the yerba mate plant in hot water. It can be served cold or hot. Mate contains caffeine. Drinking it isn’t linked to health problems in most adults. Some studies suggest the tea may have helpful effects on health. But more research is needed.
One cup contains around 80 milligrams of caffeine, comparable to a cup of coffee. Many people say it gives them an energy boost without the nervousness that sometimes occurs with coffee. However, research hasn’t confirmed this.
Proponents advocate it helps boost weight loss, ease depression, relieve fatigue, treat headaches. Then there is the issue that it could be connected with cancer. The simple fact is it isn’t likely going to pose risks for healthy adults who enjoy it in moderation. Studies have suggested people who drink a lot also love to smoke. They have higher risks of cancers, but not because of consumption.
Taste and preparation
Best tasting comes from leaves grown in rainforest shade. It’s prepared and consumed uniquely, different from teas, brewing leaves in warm water and sipping with metal straw bombilla. Can also prepare cold-brewed, sweetened. More intense, bitter flavor than green tea, but varies according preparation, variety, adding sugar/honey/fruit.
Potential health benefits
- It is a type of tea made from the leaves of a South American holly plant.
- It has been consumed for centuries by indigenous communities who consider it a gift from the gods. Sharing it is an important cultural ritual that brings people together.
- It contains caffeine, antioxidants, and other beneficial plant compounds. It provides a gentle stimulation, similar to green tea, along with numerous potential health benefits. Research suggests it may help boost energy and mental focus, promote weight loss, improve digestion, and have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects.
- The flavor resembles herbs, grass and vegetables. It’s often described as bitter, strong or nutty. Sweeteners or lemon juice can be added to improve the taste. It can be prepared in several ways as a traditional tea, an iced tea, or soaked in cold water like coffee. People of all ages drink it at all times of the day as part of an active social ritual.
- While generally safe, it may increase blood pressure and pregnancy risks in those with heart conditions due to its caffeine content. The optimal consumption level for health benefits without adverse effects has not been conclusively established.
Production and harvesting
The leaves grow more quickly in a controlled environment, so they are harvested once each winter. It has the same amount of caffeine as coffee does, but it does not make the drinker jittery. You will feel the body and mind stimulation long after drinking it.
Drinking rituals
The most common way of drinking it 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.
Unlike coffee or tea, it is nutritious and full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It contains, among other things, mateine.
The Indigenous Guaraní people of Paraguay, the first to consume it, considered the drink a gift from the gods.
It 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.
Being offered mate is a sign of respect and in many instances, a great way to make new friends on the road. Over the centuries, the art of sharing mate has been passed down through generations.
Why is yerba mate expensive?
Yerba mate is produced from holly leaves from an evergreen plant native to only a few regions in South America. The leaves grow more quickly in a controlled environment, so they are harvested once each winter. It has the same amount of caffeine as coffee does, but it does not make the drinker jittery. Unless you are super sensitive to caffeine, you will feel the body and mind stimulation long after drinking yerba mate.
The most common way of drinking yerba mate 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.
In addition to the traditional recipe, there are many variations of this drink. The ‘yerba mate gringo’ style refers to the way the drink is enjoyed in North America: the leaves are placed in a cup, cold water is added and then left to soak for a few minutes, with the addition of hot water afterwards.
Unlike coffee or tea mate is nutritious and full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It contains, among other things, mateine. That is the softer version of caffeine.
The Indigenous Guaraní people of Paraguay, the first to consume yerba mate, considered the drink a gift from the gods.
While it is most commonly prepared as a hot tea, some people use this plant to prepare cold teas.
Yerba mate is a traditional drink made from the leaves and twigs of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. You drink mate with a metal straw, traditionally made from silver, called bombilla in Spanish and bomba in Portuguese.
Being offered mate is a sign of respect and in many instances, a great way to make new friends on the road. Over the centuries, the art of sharing mate has been passed down through generations.
Argentinians usually drink it for breakfast or just before sunset. They drink it hot or cold depending on the weather. More than a habit, getting together to matear forges emotional links between people.
Does yerba mate give you a buzz?
Yerba mate is bitter thanks primarily to the tannins it contains. Many people enjoy this bitter taste, while others balance it out by adding mint, honey, sugar, milk, or citrus to their mate. Some brands of Yerba mate can take on a smokey flavor. Yerba mate provides an energy boost due to its high caffeine content. Caffeine helps to motivate by stimulating dopamine production.
Mugwort produces a very mild effect while you’re awake. Gives you a steady rise in energy which gives a feel of stimulation to drinkers’ minds and bodies. That’s why yerba mate doesn’t give you the jitters, unlike coffee.
Yerba mate is traditionally smoked to give it a more full-bodied, and a smoky flavour. When it comes to enjoying yerba mate, traditional drinking rituals add a richness to the experience. It has adaptogenic properties, which means it can regulate the body’s systems.
Containing caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline, along with antioxidants and more, this stimulant isn’t psychedelic or hallucinogenic but it’s the closest thing to it.
Yerba mate is produced from holly leaves from a plant native to only a few regions in South America. It has the same caffeine as coffee but doesn’t make the drinker jittery. You will feel the stimulation long after drinking yerba mate while coffee drinkers suffer a crash.
Despite being low in caffeine, you should limit cups of yerba mate tea per day. Yerba mate provides strength of coffee, delight as chocolate and health benefits like tea. Indigenous South Americans termed it the ‘drinks of the gods.’