This tea made from a South American plant is very popular in countries like Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. It has been drunk for a very long time. Before Europeans arrived, native people chewed the leaves. Later, a tea was made by pouring hot water over dried leaves. This tea is shared between people. The same cup and straw are passed around.
The mate tea contains many healthy things like antioxidants and vitamins. It can give you more energy and focus. Some people say it helps them lose weight. Drinking mate is also a social tradition. Sharing it brings people together.
The mate plant can grow very tall, up to 60 feet. But the leaves that are used for tea come from smaller bushes, around 8 feet tall. After the leaves are picked, they are dried for up to 2 years. This aging makes the flavor better.
To make the tea, hot water is poured over dried mate leaves in a special cup called a gourd. A metal straw with a filter is used to drink from the gourd. Passing around the gourd and straw to share mate is part of the tradition.
Over the last 20 years, mate has been gaining popularity worldwide. As more people learn about it, demand has gone up. Now some mate products can be found in stores globally.
Mate is a tea made from the leaves of a South American holly plant. It has been consumed for centuries by indigenous tribes who believed it improved stamina and health. Today, mate remains a popular social and cultural beverage in several South American countries.
Compared to coffee, mate is much lower in acidity, making it easier to digest. It provides caffeine for alertness along with numerous vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. But its benefits go beyond physical health. Sharing mate is a tradition that fosters social bonding.
Mate has a variable taste ranging from nutty and grassy to herbal and bitter. The flavor depends greatly on the processing method as well as the temperature of water used for brewing. Mate is always prepared in a hollow gourd known as a calabash using a metal straw with a filter tip called a bombilla. After heating water to just below boiling, the gourd is filled partway with mate leaves then gently shaken to settle them across the bottom.
This drink from yerba mate leaves is popular in parts of South America. It has some health benefits but also some risks.
Yerba mate contains caffeine and antioxidants. Some research suggests it can help with weight loss, fatigue, memory, and more. However, yerba mate also has risks. These include:
- Increased cancer risk for heavy drinkers
- Risks for people sensitive to stimulants
When preparing mate, using boiling water makes it taste bitter. The best temperature is between 155-175° Fahrenheit. This avoids bitterness and cracking a gourd. Moderation is wise when drinking mate.
Yerba mate is a traditional South American drink made from the dried leaves and twigs of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. It’s consumed daily in countries like Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and southern Brazil.
Drinking mate regularly has several health benefits. It can help:
- Boost your immune system
- Protect against heart disease
- Burn fat
- Enhance insulin sensitivity
- Increase bone mineral density
It also contains compounds that provide mental clarity and focus without the anxiety or crashes of coffee. The energizing effects are gentle and sustained.
In South America, mate holds cultural significance beyond being just a tasty and healthy drink. Sharing mate is a way of connecting with others. Having mate is also seen as a sign of hospitality. For Argentinians in particular, drinking mate is an integral part of daily life across all social classes. It’s always available no matter the circumstances.