Yerba Mate: A Comprehensive Guide to Its Benefits and Uses
Did you know that the yerba mate tea is also recognized as the “Drink of the Gods,”? This title reflects its profound history and cultural significance.
Cherished for centuries by South American tribes, this unique brew offers a blend of flavors and potential benefits. People especially appreciate yerba mate tea for the sustained energy boost it provides. Intrigued to know more? Let’s get started!
What is yerba mate tea?
Yerba Mate tea is a beverage that’s made by infusing the dried leaves and stems of the Ilex Paraguariensis plant in hot water. Since it's not a true tea, it's categorized as one of the herbal teas.
What does yerba mate tea taste like?
Yerba mate tea has an earthy, herbaceous, bitter, and slightly naturally sweet flavor profile. When you get used to the taste, you may as well start noticing hints of floral, chocolate, or lemon notes.
What is special about yerba mate tea?
Did you know that yerba mate tea contains caffeine?
One research has mentioned that a brewed cup of yerba mate tea consists of around 78 mg of caffeine that’s nearly the same as the coffee with 80 mg. So, due to the high caffeine, drinking it could help with the energy boost.
Moreover, yerba mate tea ingredients also include other compounds like polyphenols, saponins, theobromine, macronutrients, vitamin C, etc. That’s why it may offer several potential health benefits.
How to brew yerba mate tea?
Yerba mate tea is brewed uniquely. Based on the type of brewing container you have, there are two ways you can prepare this tea. Just make sure to avoid pouring boiling water that burns the tea and gives it a bitter taste.
Traditional Method
Traditionally, people used a special container called gourd and bombilla (metal filtering straw that also serves as a sieve) to drink the tea. If you want to try it this way, here are the steps.
- Fill the gourd with 2/3 of loose leaf teas which could be 3 to 4 tablespoons.
- Now, cover the gourd with your hand and shake the large particles to the bottom.
- Hold the gourd at 45 degrees and form a mountain on one side.
- Pour the room temperature or cool water into the empty half of loose-leaf tea.
- Allow the tea to steep for around 30 seconds.
- Insert the bombila into the pit.
- Now, pour hot water and fill in the rest of the gourd.
- Sip the tea through a metal straw and enjoy. You can infuse the tea up to multiple times.
Using Teapot
- Pour a small amount of hot water into your teapot, swirl it, and discard. It’ll warm the teapot.
- Now, put loose leaf or tea bag of yerba mate in a teapot strainer.
- Pour cool water over the tea and let it steep for 30 seconds.
- Now, pour the hot water from 160-180°F over the leaves.
- Steep the tea for around 4 to 7 minutes.
- Pour into the cup and enjoy.
For those who have yerba mate tea bags, you may steep the tea in hot water, discard the bags, and enjoy!
Benefits of Yerba Mate Tea
May Support in Weight loss
As yerba mate consists of caffeine and theobromine, it might help suppress the appetite. One research found that drinking yerba mate tea at 3°C was more effective in fat burning. So, this tea may help in weight loss.
Could Improve Physical Performance
The caffeine content in the yerba mate tea could help to relieve fatigue, improve memory, and enhance alertness. Moreover, this tea may also contribute to increasing endurance and energy levels, making it a beloved brew among athletes.
Might Boost Immunity System
Yerba mate tea has abundant vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that may aid in strengthening the immune system. It could also support your body in fighting against infections.
May Improve Mood
The antioxidants like saponins and polyphenols found in yerba mate tea could help in decreasing the oxidative stress. So, drinking this beverage might help in promoting a good mood.
Could Help to Improve Bone Health
In a study of postmenopausal women samples, it was found that they had significantly higher bone mineral density after drinking yerba mate tea everyday for 4 years. But, further research is required to support this finding.
Matcha Green Tea vs Yerba Mate
Matcha green tea and yerba mate are completely two different teas. If you’re interested in knowing each other in more detail, let’s explore them briefly below.
Plant Source
While matcha tea is made from the Camellia Sinensis plant, yerba mate comes from the Ilex paraguariensis plant.
Flavor
Matcha tea offers a vegetal, sweet, umami taste profile. But, yerba mate tea provides a more earthy, slightly bitter flavor.
Brewing process
Matcha is brewed by whisking the mixture. On the other hand, yerba mate is made traditionally in the gourd by steeping in hot water and drinking using the metal straw known as bombilla.
Caffeine
Yerba mate tea definitely has a higher caffeine than matcha. In a cup, there’s around 78 mg of caffeine in yerba mate whereas you’ll find 18.9 - 44.4 mg in matcha tea.
FAQs about Yerba Mate Tea
Is yerba mate green tea?
No. Yerba mate is not green tea. It’s a different kind of tea that’s derived from the Ilex Paraguariensis plant.
Is yerba mate black tea?
No. Yerba mate is not black tea. Rather, it's an herbal tea that consists of dried leaves or stems of a plant called Ilex Paraguariensis.
Does yerba mate tea contain caffeine?
Yes. Even though yerba mate tea is an herbal tea, it naturally contains caffeine.
Is yerba mate bad for you?
As there’s high caffeine in yerba mate tea, it could possibly have side effects if you over consume it. You may experience symptoms like restlessness, headaches, insomnia, etc.
Conclusion
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