Yerba mate or coffee?
What is healthier coffee or yerba mate?
Yerba mate is a South American drink that provides an excellent alternative to coffee and has legendary health benefits. This tea has ancient origins and is often referred to as the "tea of the gods." What exactly is yerba mate and what makes it so special? The infusion of leaves and twigs of Paraguayan holly is made from the Ilex paraguariensis plant. Taste wise it contains high levels of tannins giving it a strength of flavor similar to that of coffee or black teas.
Along with supporting weight loss, concentration, and better digestion, drinking it symbolizes culture and tradition in the Southern Cone. Cultivated from the subtropical forest of South America, the leaves are trimmed by hand, dried, ground, and then aged. Once brewed it contains more antioxidants than any other tea-based drink.
To extract antioxidant power more efficiently it should be consumed traditionally hot. The temperature of the water should be between 70 and 80oC, not boiling, to prevent burning.
In some parts of the world it is gaining popularity. I encourage you to try and take advantage of the benefits offered by drinking the infusion of leaves and twigs of Paraguayan holly.
Where to buy yerba mate
What company distributes yerba mate?
After more than 100 years and growing consumer desire for “clean caffeine,” something companies are calling yerba mate is finally on shelves near you. The plant has been seen as a moneymaking commodity since Europeans first arrived in the Americas.
If you wish to purchase yerba mate, you have to look for Brazilian or Paraguayan-themed food markets. Yerba Maté (Ilex paraguariensis) is a small tree native to Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Deemed “The Drink of the Gods” by indigenous groups in South America, yerba maté possesses a multitude of health benefits that have begun to attract the attention of American scientists and consumers.