Yerba Mate (yer-ber-matteh) is a traditional tea of South America and has been used as a medicinal beverage by Native Americans of Brazil and Paraguay for centuries. The process of preparing and drinking mate is specific to the different regions within South America, but all involve adding hot water and dried tea leaves to a hollow gourd, mixing or shaking the gourd, and then sipping with a metal strainer or straw usually while in a group of friends or family.
Mate was traditionally used to help South Americans maintain their stamina while trekking through the Amazon rainforest with little access to food. The tea contains many vitamins and minerals, as well as 15 amino acids making it a meal replacement during time of famine. Today, the average Urugayan consumes 20 pounds of mate per year. As a result of the plethora of health benefits, it is also used throughout North America, Europe and Asia as a stimulant, tonic, appetite suppressant, laxative, and memory enhancer.
The tea can often have a smoky flavor and therefore, while not traditional, it can be mixed with other herbs such as peppermint, spearmint, or cinnamon for added health benefits.
Some of the health benefits of yerba mate include:
1. Antioxidant & Immune Boosting
Yerba Mate has approximately 90% more antioxidants than green tea. These antioxidants give it significant immune boosting and detoxification properties.
2. Increasing Mental Focus
Minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, animo-acids and polyphenols, and natural caffeine increase mental energy, clarity and focus without the headaches and jittery nerves that coffee can create.
3. Enhancing Physical Stamina
Used traditionally to improve the physical endurance and as a meal replacement during fasting and treks in the Amazon, the plethora of chemical compounds and nutrients in yerba mate tea help the body to use carbohydrates more efficiently.
Note: Because of naturally occurring caffeine, yerba mate should not be consumed during pregnancy or in those with allergies to caffeine or by individuals with severe hypertension or cardiac disorders.
