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What Is Yerba Mate?

Yerba Mate

Whether you are a long-term health enthusiast or just a newbie health fan testing the waters, chances are you already heard about the herbal drink yerba mate. Yerba mate is arguably one of the hottest topics in the health community nowadays. But what exactly is this drink and why is it catching attention among many health enthusiasts worldwide?

Yerba mate is a type of herbal tea that was primarily known and consumed in South America. Despite being around for centuries, it is just recently that yerba mate has caught attention throughout much of the world due to its many health benefits to the body. It is packed with different vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that enhance health and boost physical performance. There is no doubt that this herb is a worthy addition to your healthy diet.

If you are not yet fully familiar with yerba mate and plan to incorporate it into your healthy lifestyle, keep on reading as we discuss everything you need to know about this wonder drink in more detail.

Man Holding Calabash Yerba Mate in Nature

Table of Contents

What Does Yerba Mate Taste Like?

For many yerba mate newbies, the taste of the yerba mate may cause an overwhelming reaction.

It delivers a strong taste especially when prepared traditionally from the gourd and sipped through a metal straw. It also has an earthy or vegetal taste and subtle camphor or eucalyptus smell and flavor. You will also notice a slightly bitter taste when it is steeped in hot water like tea.

Some describe the taste as distinctive and newbies may need some time adjusting their palate. Nevertheless, once you get acquainted with its taste, you will be able to consume yerba mate easily and enjoy its flavor,

Is Yerba Mate Good For You?

The short answer is yes, however, scientific studies for yerba mate are still lacking. Though recent studies have revealed a large number of benefits from drinking yerba mate, these studies are not yet enough to back all of them up.

In addition, consuming too much yerba mate, 10 or more cups daily, over a long period of time may cause inability to sleep, nervousness, increased heart rate, nausea, and other adverse effects to the drinker’s body. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t be discouraged to try out this wonder drink and experience its great health benefits.

There are already several existing studies that can support some health claims of yerba mate as well. Below are the key benefits we know so far.

1. Yerba mate is a good source of health-promoting antioxidants and nutrients

Yerba mate is rich in antioxidants and nutrients that can help the body in many ways. Many also believe that the antioxidant power of yerba mate could be higher than green tea.

The active nutrients and antioxidants in yerba mate include:

  • Xanthine 

This type of compound acts as a stimulant and is also found in coffee and tea.

  • Saponins

These compounds have anti-inflammatory properties and can help with lowering cholesterol.

  • Caffeoyl derivatives

This is a major antioxidant compound that improves health conditions.

  • Polyphenols

They are a huge group of antioxidants that are associated with reducing the risk or occurrence of various diseases.

While all these nutrients can surely contribute to better health, yerba mate only contains very small amounts of these and may not be enough to make a significant contribution to health. Apart from drinking yerba mate, we recommend eating a well-balanced diet and doing regular exercises to keep your body in its optimum state.

2. Yerba mate contains caffeine that can help enhance energy levels and concentration

Yerba mate contains a moderate amount of caffeine. In other words, it has more caffeine than tea but less caffeine compared to coffee. This makes the caffeine level of yerba mate just enough to reduce fatigue and improve physical performance as well as boost energy.

People who are into sports will particularly love the energy boost that yerba mate can give for better physical performance. Because the amount of caffeine is just moderate, you are not likely to experience exhaustion when the caffeine level drops.

Caffeine is also known to play a role in the brain signaling molecules that is important for brain focus or concentration. Some regular yerba mate drinkers also say that they have become more alert through regular consumption.

3. Yerba mate can help strengthen the immune system and protect the body against infections

Apart from the anti-inflammatory properties of yerba mate, it also contains little amounts of vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and zinc which are all known to strengthen the immune system.

Yerba mate may also help in preventing infection from parasites, bacteria, and fungi as well as provide protection against intestinal parasites.

4. Yerba mate may assist in lowering blood sugar levels

Blood sugar is one of the most common but difficult health conditions for many people. Thankfully, regularly drinking yerba mate can help.

Yerba mate can help in maintaining or lowering blood sugar and lessen the chances of incurring diabetes complications. A recent animal study even noted that yerba mate can enhance insulin signaling. Although more studies are needed to prove its effectiveness to humans, yerba mate has already shown great potential for lowering blood sugar.

5. Yerba mate may help in weight loss

An animal study published in the US Library of Medicine National Institute of Health reported that yerba mate may reduce appetite and help in boosting metabolism. Yerba mate is thought to decrease the number of fat cells and lessen the fat percentage they contain as well.

A 12-week clinical trial study was also conducted to test the effectiveness of yerba mate in overweight people. The result? The participants who were given 3 grams of yerba mate powder daily were able to lose 1.5 pounds of body weight and reduce their waist to hip ratio by 2% on average. On the other hand, those who were given a placebo gained 6.2 pounds and increased their waist to hip ratio by 1% on average.

pouring hot water into yerba mate
How To Prepare Yerba Mate

Preparing yerba mate is not difficult at all. First of all, you have to prepare your yerba mate. Processed or yerba mate tea can easily be purchased in different health stores nowadays. But if you have access to the yerba mate plant, you can always prepare your own. We must warn you though, creating your own yerba mate can take a long time. The process of making yerba mate can take up to two years to develop the ideal mate aroma and color.

Once you acquire your yerba mate, you can proceed with preparation. According to tradition, yerba mate is prepared and served in a container called gourd, also referred to as a calabash. A metal straw is also used to sip the yerba mate out of the gourd. This metal straw has a filter on its lower end that strains yerba mate fragments.

Put your desired amount of yerba mate into your calabash and shake it slightly to distribute the yerba mate equally in the gourd. Fill the gourd with hot water and enjoy your yerba mate tea.

If you do not have a gourd, you can make your yerba mate tea using a French press. Simply put yerba mate powder in your French press and add hot water. Press the plunger to keep the yerba mate fragments in the bottom of the French press. Aside from the French press, you can also use a tea strainer or tea infuser, teapot, or coffee maker.

Yerba mate can be enjoyed once steeped in hot water, but you can always adjust the taste based on your liking. You can add sugar, lemon juice, and even milk. You can enjoy your yerba mate drink while it’s hot or consume it when it is cold for a more refreshing taste when the weather is hot.

Depending on your gourd or French press size, you can reuse the yerba mate for up to 30 refills. Feel free to add water until all yerba mate flavor is gone.

Traditional Argentina Yerba Mate Tea
Does Yerba Mate Stain Teeth?

Yerba mate doesn’t stain your teeth at all. This is just a common misconception that has been passed on for generations. Despite having caffeine and almost similar benefits with coffee, yerba mate won’t leave any form of stain on your teeth.

Caffeine dissolves in fluids and causes little to no coloration. It is not the culprit for stained teeth from coffee. The coffee ingredients responsible for staining teeth are the tannins. Tannins are a type of polyphenol that causes color compounds to stick to your teeth. When these color compounds attach to your teeth, a yellow stain is formed. Tannins are also present in other beverages like wine and tea.

How Much Yerba Mate Can I Drink Per Day?

There is no perfect amount of yerba mate consumption per day. Yerba mate is not built equally and varies by taste, caffeine content, and preparation. Some yerba mate may contain relatively strong ingredients while some may not. Because of these reasons, it’s difficult to determine how much yerba mate is appropriate for daily consumption.

Our advice? Start with steeping a little amount of yerba mate into hot water and slowly add more yerba mate until you get the right flavor for you. The key is to take the process slowly so you can get the right blend for you and take advantage of the multitude of benefits yerba mate has.

Despite being a natural herb and unlikely to cause any health concerns among adults, yerba mate is best to consume in moderation. We advise limiting consumption to only 1 liter a day to avoid any adverse effects. If you have preexisting health conditions, we also encourage you to consult your doctor first before trying this herbal drink.

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Hi, we are Benga and Lunide. We are a couple with a passion for health and fitness. Lunide has competed in multiple running races and triathlons and Benga is a former collegiate track and field athlete who now maintains a workout regime to stay fit.  Read more

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