Is yerba mate organic?
The South American plant is brewed to make a caffeinated drink. Referred to as the “drink of the Gods”, it is even more popular than coffee in some regions. Wild grown maté is most desirable, because it is free from growth chemicals, making it organic. It is also possible to cultivate the plant without using chemicals. Organic is the healthier choice. Organic maté may cost more than non-organic, but the benefits are worth the price. It tastes better too; growing conditions affect the taste.
Origins and Popularity
The scientific name of the yerba mate plant is Ilex paraguariensis. For the product to be organic, it must be grown using natural methods without chemicals like fertilizers or pesticides. Sometimes maté is wild harvested from plants growing in the rain forest.
Maté is popular in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. There, it is often drunk from a traditional gourd with a metal straw called a bombilla. Organic maté tea bags make the tea easy to brew. Traditionally, this drink is consumed with milk, sweetened or flavored with fruits like peach, vanilla, tangerine or lemon.
Health Benefits
The best thing about organic maté is that it can be blended with other teas, spices, fruits and herbs to customize the flavor. If you prefer organic teas, you can get organic maté blends made from quality ingredients.
Maté elevates metabolism and mood. As an excellent coffee alternative, it provides vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for balanced, long-lasting energy.
Maté is a stimulating, nutritious South American beverage brewed from the leaves of a small tree native to Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. In many parts of South America it is much more popular than coffee.
Directions
Mate is a drink made by steeping dried leaves from the yerba mate plant in hot water. It tastes somewhat like green tea, with hints of tobacco and oak. The simplest method for many is to treat maté like any other loose tea; steep it in hot water and then filter out the leaves before drinking.
Drinking maté brings drinking mate to a whole new level. Traditionally, maté tea is enjoyed out of a gourd, called a mate, in which it is prepared by scooping the dried leaves into the mate. Then hot, but not boiling, water is poured in. It is then sipped through a metal straw, called a bomilla, which has holes in it to let the liquid come through but filters out the leaves.
Here’s a guide on how to prepare maté and everything you need to start drinking including: What type of mate cup, what to look for in a bomilla, and types of maté. Mate cups come in all shapes, sizes, and materials.
Since throwing a teabag into a microwaved cup of water to sip alone at your desk isn’t exactly the most exciting way to capture the spirit of maté, here is a step-by-step guide to help you enjoy the rich tradition of this South American institution. Gather your materials. Obtain a gourd and a bombilla.
Never use boiling water to brew your maté, because that will make the resulting brew much more bitter. This recipe uses a blend of cool and hot water to make your maté taste awesome.
Chemical Composition
What are the chemicals in maté?
Maté contains caffeine and antioxidants. It has potential health benefits like faster muscle recovery, reduced inflammation, and increased energy. Maté is popular in countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. It is consumed more than coffee in these countries.
The indigenous Guarani people first used mate. The leaves are harvested by hand. The best tasting mate comes from leaves grown in rainforest shade. This makes the leaves more flavorful.
To prepare mate, use water just below boiling temperature. Let it steep for 3-5 minutes. Maté has about as much caffeine as green tea but different chemicals. It provides energy without crashes or jitters.
Maté grows wild or can be cultivated without chemicals. Organic maté costs more but is healthier.
Though not a nootropic, maté can increase focus and energy. It contains saponins to boost immunity and antioxidants for anti-inflammatory benefits. Studies show maté aids weight loss by reducing appetite and improving insulin sensitivity. It may also protect heart health.
The maté plant is native to subtropical regions of South America. The leaves and twigs are used to make a tea-like beverage that is popular in countries like Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil.
Maté has an earthy, nutty taste often described as chocolatey or lemony. It contains tannins like black tea and is usually consumed without added sweeteners in South America. Nutritionally, maté is high in antioxidants, vitamins, and amino acids. Some links to health benefits include increased energy, improved gut health and even weight loss. Its caffeine provides a more balanced stimulation than coffee.
The ritual of drinking maté is a daily tradition, not an occasional or niche habit like in North America. Sharing mate brings people together intergenerationally whether at work, home or socially.