Yerba Mate
Yerba Mate, also known as South American holly, is a small tree with small greenish-white flowers and red berries. Its stimulating leaves have a long history of use in South America.
Yerba Mate plant.
The traditional way to have Mate is to make the leaves into stimulating tea. sugar or some herbs like mint can be used to enhance the taste. The water in Mate tea can also be replaced by milk.
There are many types and brands of yerba. Toasted version of Mate tea is popular in Brazil. The toasted leaves of Yerba Mate are sold in teabags and loose form. Either hot or cold Mate drinks are also served usually mixed with milk or fruit juice.
Mate contains same kind of stimulants found also in coffee and chocolate. Since the main stimulant of Yerba Mate is caffeine, the effects are similiar to coffee but less potent making the tea also gentler on the stomach.The main effects of Mate are improved focus and mental alertness. Recent studies have also showed Yerba Mate to have versatile healing properties.
Other names for Mate tea include Braziliain tea, chá mate (Brazilian toasted mate), jesuit tea, ka'a, mate cocido (in Spanish) and Paraguay tea.
Stores
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