The South American herbal tea is made from the leaves and twigs of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. This caffeinated infusion is commonly consumed in countries across South America, including Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It has a bitter, vegetal flavor. It can be served cold, hot, or carbonated.
Some research suggests it may offer benefits like weight loss, improved heart health, and cancer prevention. But more studies are needed to confirm these connections. The caffeine provides a gentle energy boost that is sustained over several hours. This contrasts with the quick spike and crash some experience from coffee or energy drinks.
The appropriate amount to drink likely varies by individual. Some South Americans safely consume 1-4 liters daily. People in the U.S. and Europe often drink 1-2 liters per day if they are avid drinkers. Start slow when trying it to assess your personal tolerance.
The herbal tea is a plant native to South America. It is grown in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The plant requires a warm, humid climate. After several years, the plants are harvested. The process of growing, harvesting, and processing it is labor-intensive. The leaves are dried, aged up to 24 months, and ground.
The Indigenous Guaraní people of Paraguay first consumed it. They considered the drink a gift from the gods. It became a symbol of friendship. Today it continues to represent culture and tradition in South America.
You can connect with enthusiasts at local events, online forums, or festivals.
It is available at health food stores, specialty tea shops, online retailers, and South American markets. It contains 24 vitamins and minerals, 15 amino acids, and antioxidants. The caffeine provides a clean, balanced energy boost.
It has potential health benefits like supporting weight loss, concentration, digestion, slowing blood clotting, decreasing blood sugar, and lowering neurological disease risk.
The amount considered safe to drink daily ranges from 1 to 4 liters.
Drinking it is a ritual in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. It’s an infusion prepared with the dried leaves of a South American tree. Called "the drink of the gods" for centuries by indigenous groups like the Guarani, it provides caffeine, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It offers the "strength of coffee, health of tea, euphoria of chocolate".
You prepare it by steeping dry leaves in hot water and drinking from a gourd with a metal straw. This ritual is a social event in South America.
Drinking it provides many benefits – from mental sharpness to physical energy.
Compared to coffee, it enhances focus instead of merely providing energy. Its prolonged, multifaceted energy is more appealing than coffee’s quick boost. You can drink it later without it preventing sleep. It has health benefits that energy drinks lack, despite both providing an energy boost when needed.
It promotes healthy digestion via compounds which alleviate issues like bloating and constipation. It has gained popularity as a natural weight loss aid due to these compounds. It also contains caffeine, providing natural and sustained energy without coffee’s jitters. Additionally, it includes theobromine for improved focus and mental clarity.
Research suggests it may have beneficial effects on cholesterol, weight loss, the heart, inflammation, and cancer risk. However, more research is still needed to confirm these potential health links.