What is Yerba Mate?
Yerba Mate (pronounced yehrba-mah-te) is a nutrient dense plant from South America. Made from the leaves of the yerba maté plant, the drink is often simply called “maté” and is traditionally enjoyed from a hollowed-out gourd, often decorated with elegant designs, and a bombilla. It can be enjoyed alone, or shared among friends as a symbol of closeness.
Often referred to by the Amazonians as the "Drink of the Gods," the leaves contain 24 vitamins and minerals, 15 amino acids, abundant antioxidants and naturally occurring caffeine. Of the most common stimulants in the world: coffee, tea, kola nut, cocoa and guarana, yerba maté is the healthiest – delivering both energy and nutrition.
Fresh, vibrant and stimulating, yerba maté has enjoyed centuries of use in South American countries like Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Today, its fresh, intriguing flavor and unique health benefits gives yerba maté a rising popularity in the rest of the world.
Even though yerba mate has caffeine, most caffeine-sensitive individuals don’t experience the harsh side effects (jitters, stomach upset, headaches, addiction) common with coffee and black or green tea. That’s because yerba mate has a low tannin content and isn’t oily and acid forming, so it is less likely to cause stomach acid and jitters.
The indigenous people of the area in South America in which the Ilex paraguariensis tree grows, used yerba mate tea for centuries, not only as a social beverage, but also as a medicinal one. Scientific research done over only the last two decades is revealing many health benefits that will be discussed elsewhere on this website.
Whether you are seeking an invigorating coffee alternative, or simply looking to try something new, yerba mate is a wonderful herbal tea option. Now you can enjoy yerba mate in loose-leaf form, letting you experience the tea the authentic South American way.