Finding great healthy drinks can be a trying thing sometimes, there are so many options out there, and it’s hard to narrow down exactly which ones have the health benefits you want, and still taste great.

Yerba mate tea is a healthy tea drink that has been gaining international recognition in recent years through online influences and health buffs, but what is it, where did it come from, and is it good for a persons’ health?

Yerba Mate

To begin with, the basis of yerba mate tea is the yerba mate plant. Yerba mate is found all around South America, and it has been so popular for centuries that it’s drink preparation is the most consumed in Uruguay, Argentina, and extremely popular in Brazil and other surrounding countries. The yerba mate is a type of holly plant, and when its leaves and sticks have been used in traditional medicines for centuries, if not longer, curing ailments from stomach problems and indigestion, to arthritis.

Preparation of a Traditional Mate

While the plant is called yerba mate, scientific name Ilex paraguariensis, “mate” actually comes from the name of the infusion process that is completed in order to create yerba mate tea. Unlike traditional coffees and teas, yerba mate must be infused via steeping the dry leaves in hot water, rather than boiling water. Traditional methods of yerba mate preparation needs hot water at 140-170F, a gourd, and a bombilla (metal, strained straw).

To prepare traditionally, a gourd is filled ½ – ⅔ of the way with yerba mate, then the gourd is covered with a palm leaf and turned upside down and shaken to move larger particles to the bottom of the gourd. Next, while at a 45 degree angle room temperature water is poured into the empty side until half the yerba is covered and allowed to be absorbed. Next, the bombilla is inserted into the water side to the bottom of the gourd and tilted until the tip is under the yerba. Lastly, the hot water is poured into the gourd beside the bombilla, avoiding saturating all of the yerba and then it can be sipped. Once drunk, hot water can be repeatedly poured in, eventually allowing it to steep longer to get more flavor before sipping, until all the flavor is finally gone.

Of course, the traditional method of preparing yerba mate isn’t for everyone–and probably the majority don’t actually use that method–so it can be consumed just like any other tea or coffee. However, it should be remembered, if using it through a tea straining method, to still only use hot water, and not boiling water, otherwise the flavor will end up too bitter. 1 tablespoon of yerba per 8 ounces of hot water, steeped for 3 minutes is ideal.

Health Benefits of Yerba Mate Tea

Yerba mate is one of the many herbs, plants, and mushrooms that are in the category of adaptogenic substances. Adaptogenic herbs like yerba mate help the body protect itself from stressors of everyday life, by helping control blood flow, hormones, and other aspects of the body’s physiology so that it can heal before it gets stressed to the point of fatigue.

Yerba mate is rich in antioxidants and nutrients such as xanthines, caffeoyl derivatives, saponins and polyphenols, which all help with various parts of the body from stimulating energy, to anti-inflammation and lowering cholesterol. In fact, the antioxidant power of yerba mate is higher than some other teas, although not enough to replace from other parts of a diet.

Energy boost and improved mental focus are a big bonus of yerba mate tea, as the caffeine within yerba mate is all natural, and at a level greater than many teas, but lower than coffee. The amount of caffeine within yerba mate is ideal, as it isn’t enough to trigger jitters, headaches, and other issues people often have with coffee drinking.

Another health benefit of yerba mate tea is that it can help reduce appetites and boost metabolism, both of which help with the reduction of body fat and overall weight loss.

Yerba Mate Drinks

Finding a great health drink that can be easy to prepare that include antioxidants, nutrients, and good energy boosts is important for a lot of people in this modern world. Yerba mate tea is a great alternative to the mainstream teas and coffees available on the market, and if a person doesn’t have the time to prepare a tea, they can also get yerba mate in an all-natural energy drink alternative. Healthy living doesn’t have to be hard or complicated, and yerba mate tea proves it.