YERBA MATE: THE HEALTHY ENERGY KICK OF THE SOUTH AMERICANS
Yerba Mate is the coffee among teas. South Americans like to drink this herbal tea a lot for a good energy boost. It has since also found its way to the West. All the hipsters in Berlin, for instance, have been getting their energy from bottles of Club Mate for years, in which the main ingredient is of course Yerba Mate. But besides energy, drinking 'mate' has other benefits. It can also contribute to a healthy cholesterol profile, your heart health, inflammation and even lend a hand if you want to lose weight. Some people find that mate gives a finer energy kick than coffee because it is said to make you less nervous. Curious? Read all about this interesting little plant here.
Yerba Mate: the drink of South America
Yerba Mate, 'mate' for short, is especially wildly popular among the people of South America. It is simply part of the culture there. Even Messi is a top fan. What sweet tea with milk is to the English, mate is to the Argentines and Brazilians, among others. They prefer to sip all day on this bitter brew of mate leaves, which come from the mate bush. They put these leaves in a thermo-mug, to which they add hot water. Using a special straw with a filter on it, a bombilla, they make sure they can enjoy this drink without any leaves coming along. Most mate comes from Argentina: they produce around 700 tonnes of this goodie every year. Meanwhile, other cultures have also discovered yerba mate. For instance, it has also become trendy in Spain, Syria and Lebanon.
Mate has a rather bitter taste. The real diehards drink it plain, but you are of course free to add a sweetener in the form of honey, stevia or agave syrup, for example.
How healthy is yerba mate?
Yerba Mate contains a lot of caffeine, especially compared to normal teas. One cup typically contains as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, and more than twice as much as our regular teas. Besides caffeine, mate contains other stimulating psychoactive substances (alkaloids) that you also find in coffee, tea and chocolate: theophylline and theobromine. The caffeine gives you more energy and focus. Theophylline dilates the airways, which can help people with asthma and other respiratory problems with breathing. Theobromine also has a positive effect on the airways. It also acts as a diuretic and gives energy. Although theobromine's energy boost is less intense than that of caffeine, it does last longer. It also contains antioxidants, which, among other things, are anti-inflammatory. In terms of antioxidant content, it is as healthy as green tea.
There are no real health drawbacks to mate. Unless you can't stand caffeine, because like coffee, yerba mate can cause insomnia and nervousness.
How to drink mate
To use yerba mate as a tea, put a spoonful of mate powder per cup in a strainer and let it steep in hot (but not boiling) water for about 3-4 minutes. If necessary, add something to sweeten the drink.
Yerba Mate can also be found in various supplements, by the way. Go for stackers, for example; they are full of substances guaranteed to make you sit still.
Need more energy? Here are some more options
Want to try mate because you could use some more oomph? Then you have even more options. You have coffee and energy drinks, of course. There are also all kinds of supplements that will give you energy. Check out Ginkgo Biloba and Guarana, two little plants that are not only uplifting, but also boost your memory and circulation. Be sure to look around among all the stimulating products from 24high when you're looking for more energy. And don't forget the basics: healthy eating, enough sleep and a good balance between work and relaxation.
