The world-famous South American mate tea is a drink made from the leaves and shoots of a tree called Paraguayan holly, and also Paraguayan tea or mate. This is a unique drink in its composition and tonic effect with a centuries-old history.

Paraguayan tea is spelled hierba mate in Spanish. In Russian, two spellings of the word are considered correct - “mate” and “mate”. They are pronounced the same way - with an accented “e” at the end. Although the whole world pronounces the name of tea with an emphasis on the letter “a” (the first syllable).

The word “mate” also refers to a vessel for tea or other drinks made from a hollowed out and dried pumpkin. But in the Russian language, an analogue of the name of such a vessel has taken root - calabash (or calabash, calabash).

History of tea

The exact time of origin of mate has not been established, but this drink was valued by the Indian tribes of South America in the 16th century. The mention of the word “mate” as the name of a vessel is found in literary works of the early 17th century, “mate potion” - in the first half of the 18th century. But tea itself existed long before that.

The South American Gaurani Indians have a very beautiful legend. In it, the goddess of the Moon and the goddess of the Clouds descended to earth. Through carelessness, they were almost attacked by an angry jaguar, but were saved by an old man from the Gaurani tribe. As a reward, they gave the old man a Paraguayan holly seed and a recipe for amazing tea.

Since the late 16th century, European colonization of South America led to the popularization and spread of this type of tea. Today it is considered Argentinean, although its use is part of the national traditions of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay.

Properties and composition of tea

An infusion of holly leaves has unique tonic properties due to the chemical composition of the raw materials from which it is made. It includes:

more than 10 acids beneficial to the human body, including nicotinic acid (vitamin PP), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), ursolic acid;
caffeine, tannin (tonics);
protein;
riboflavin (vitamin B2), rutin (vitamin P), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), choline.

Beneficial features

The list of beneficial properties of tea is very impressive. It is noted that as a result of its use:

Blood pressure is normalized.
The heart is better saturated with oxygen.
Blood circulation throughout the body (including the brain) is stabilized.
High cholesterol levels are reduced.
The immune system becomes more resilient.
The mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines are restored.
The nervous system is strengthened and stress resistance increases.
Potency increases in men.
The craving for alcohol and smoking decreases.

The main quality of tea is its high tonic properties. Mate tea is useful as an effective way to relieve fatigue, refresh your head, and give vigor and strength.

Can the infusion be used for weight loss?

It is believed that mate infusion can be used for weight loss and can help in the fight against extra pounds. It has a stimulating effect on digestion and improves metabolic processes in the body. Thus, mate tea acts on weight loss.

Of course, it is absurd to expect that a drink will magically “burn fat.” Losing weight is a long-term process associated with food restriction and increased physical activity. And exotic tea can be a good help in this.

Harm from use, contraindications

The benefits and harms of drinking tea are determined by a person’s individual characteristics and state of health. Like any highly active product of natural origin, tea has a number of contraindications for use:

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, childhood.
The presence of an inflammatory process, accompanied by fever and high blood pressure.
Kidney disease, stones in the urinary or gall bladder.
Allergic reaction to tea components.

If you have serious health problems, it is better to consult your doctor about the possibility of regularly drinking tea.

Reviews from doctors

In discussing the possible harm from consuming mate, a lot of controversy is caused by the large number of carcinogens in the infusion. Carcinogens are poisonous and can trigger cancer. According to doctors, this effect is associated with the use of an infusion at very high temperatures.

Tea should be brewed at a temperature no higher than 80 degrees Celsius, and drunk moderately hot (not boiling water).

The properties of yerba mate were tested by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization. According to research results, very hot tea was officially included in the list of carcinogens.

Calabash with bombilla

A true calabash (or calabash, calabash) is made from a specific variety of gourd. It was from these that the Indians made calabashes, generously decorating the walls of the vessels with scorched or cut patterns. Subsequently, the Spaniards, who adopted the mate recipe and the dishes for it, began to make calabashes from certain types of trees (rosewood, oak), as well as porcelain, ceramics and even silver.

In memory of the round pumpkin, the calabash for brewing tea remained in the shape of a small pot-bellied pot. In order to drink mate from a calabash, it is equipped with either a reed or bamboo stick, or a special straw - a bombilla.

Bombilla is made of silver or cupronickel. It is all permeated with small holes, which filter the tea as it rises along it, clearing the infusion of small particles of tea leaves. Calabash and bombilla are essential attributes of a proper ceremony for brewing yerba mate tea.

Tea recipe

You should brew mate tea correctly, armed with special utensils and infusion raw materials. To prepare traditional mate, the “tea master” will need:

calabash;
bombilla;
a flat lid that can be used to tightly cover the top of the calabash.

Ingredients:

mate powder;
boiling water.

Despite its exotic nature, the brewing ritual is not so complicated and consists of the following steps:

Step 1. Pour mate into the calabash. The vessel should be 65-70% filled with tea raw materials.

Step 2. The neck of the calabash is tightly closed, and the vessel itself is shaken vigorously several times. This is necessary so that the large parts of the tea leaves are at the bottom, and the “dust” is on top.

Step 3. The water temperature for brewing tea should not exceed 80 degrees. Since water boils at a temperature of 90 degrees, after boiling it is allowed to cool slightly.

Step 4. Boiling water must be poured so that the distribution of raw materials in the vessel is preserved. To do this, the vessel is tilted at an angle of 45 degrees, and boiling water is slowly poured along the wall. Gradually, the calabash takes a vertical position, filling completely.

Step 5. To prevent the bombilla from becoming clogged with tea leaves, its upper part is tightly sealed with a finger, and the other end is inserted into the vessel, carefully moving it along the wall to the very bottom.

Step 6. The drink brews quickly. The recommended time is from 30 seconds to 2 minutes (no more than 5 minutes). The tea is prepared immediately before drinking, and the longer it is steeped, the more bitterness will prevail in the taste.

How to drink mate tea

Traditionally, everyone gathered for tea drinks mate directly from the calabash through one bombilla. The first sips are taken by the “tea master”, and then the calabash is passed around. It is slowly strained, capturing the grounds at the bottom.

It was considered indecent and even offensive to come to a tea party with your bombilla. Such tea drinking was both a beautiful ceremony and a ritual of uniting friends, uniting people into a strong union.

How to brew a drink without calabash

If there is no calabash and bombilla, it doesn’t matter. Mate tea can be brewed in a regular porcelain teapot and then poured into cups through a strainer. Of course, the tea ceremony will lose its South American charm, but the taste of the tea itself will not suffer from this.

Types of mate tea

Based on the territory of origin of raw materials, mate tea is divided into Argentine, Brazilian and Paraguayan. To create raw materials, both dry holly leaves and their stems are used:

tea without stems is stronger, richer and more fragrant (mate sin palo);
the stems in the brew give the infusion a soft taste (con palo variety).

Other main varieties of mate:

organic – tea leaves are collected by hand and “aged” for at least two years;
traditional - the aging period is one year;
“mild” - not as bitter as other varieties;
“with smoke” (barbagua variety) - this feature is provided by special processing of the leaf.

For tea lovers, tea is available with all kinds of fruit and berry additives. For example, popular varieties: with the aroma of orange - mate aguante tea, with cherry or raspberry, apple, lime, lemon. An option is mate herbal tea. Mint and lemon balm leaves are added to the main raw materials. For people with diseases of the cardiovascular system, ginkgo biloba mate tea will be especially useful.

Additional Information! Another drink called terere is also prepared from mate raw materials. To do this, pour the calabash with tea powder with cold, clean water or juice, adding spices and herbs.

Bagged mate

Argentine mate tea is popular in tea bags for brewing in a regular cup. Today in Russia, all popular varieties of yerba mate can be purchased in packaged packaging.

Tea bags are also popular in European countries, where complex tea rituals are not held in high esteem, and people are accustomed to brewing and drinking tea as simply as possible.

About the step-by-step instructions for brewing mate, about the equipment you will need to prepare the drink, and about its taste characteristics in this video:

It’s easy to prepare mate tea yourself, armed with special utensils and raw materials for brewing. It is popular due to its tonic, healing and taste properties. However, there are also contraindications to drinking this drink.

Hot mate tea is interesting for its ancient history, and brewing and drinking it according to all the rules constitutes a beautiful exotic ritual.

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Mate is a traditional drink in many South American countries, where it is an indispensable companion for the indigenous people throughout the day. Possessing a sufficient concentration of caffeine and various vitamins, it serves as a serious source of energy, increasing the overall tone of the body. Mate infusion is officially recognized as the national drink in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chaco and southern Brazil. In addition, mate is very popular in southern Chile, Syria and Lebanon. The last two countries are the largest importers of mate raw materials in the world.

The raw material for preparing the drink is crushed powder from the dried leaves of the IIex Paraguariensis tree, better known as Erva Partner or Paraguayan Holly. The powder is infused in hot water in a special vessel and served with a straw. The vessel for mate is called a "calabash", and a true calabash must be made from a special variety of gourd. The straw also has its own name - “bombilla”, or “bomb” - in Portuguese, or “massas” - in Arabic. The traditional bombilla is made of silver; more budget and household options are made of cupronickel or hollow reed.

Gourd calabash is a traditional South American historical utensil throwback. In some of the poorest regions of Brazil, gourd utensils are still used not only for drinking mate, but also as household utensils for eating and drinking, which are collectively called “kabaka”.

Holly leaves are dried, finely ground into a powdery mixture called “Yerba” and poured into a calabash. Fill with hot water and insert a bombilla, which, on one side, is like a mouthpiece, and on the other, the sides are pierced with small holes, which, like a sieve, filter the infusion from particles of tea raw materials.

Mate is a very ancient drink, beloved among the Indian tribes of South America, in particular the Guarani and Tupi, who inhabited the area of the modern territory of Paraguay, Southern Brazil, Southeast Bolivia, Northeastern Argentina and Uruguay before the onset of the Paraguayan War (1864-1870) .

The Guarani have their own legend about the origin of mate. Once upon a time, the goddesses of the Moon and Cloud descended to earth on the same day and they came across a very hungry jaguar who wanted to attack and tear them to pieces. One poor old man from the tribe saved the goddesses, for which he was given the seed of a tree, by preparing a drink from the leaves of which he would create a “drink of friendship.”

The consumption of mate became widespread thanks to the European colonization of Paraguay at the end of the 16th century, when Spanish settlers began to adopt, in their opinion, the best preferences of the indigenous Indians. Through the territory of Roi de la Plata, mate penetrates into Chile by the beginning of the 17th century, where it becomes as common a commodity as tobacco, cotton and beef.

By the middle of the century, the Jesuits, penetrating everywhere and everywhere, appropriated one of the production of mate tea raw materials, located on the territory of Misiones - one of the largest missionary reservations, thereby causing serious economic damage to the Spanish owners of mate production, who supplied tea raw materials to Europe on independent terms.

After the expulsion of the Jesuits from Paraguayan territories in the 1770s, missionary activity declined, as did Christian yerba mate production, which greatly supported the Paraguayan economy, which relied mainly on the export of tea raw materials, but was almost completely destroyed during the Paraguayan War .

Such conditions allowed Brazil and Argentina to take leading positions in the production of mate raw materials by the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. Over time, as Brazilian entrepreneurs turned to coffee production, Argentina rebuilt former Jesuit plantations in the province of Minones, becoming the second largest exporter of mate raw material after Brazil.

Paraguayan holly plant - raw material for mate is made from it

Today, only three countries in South America supply true and high-quality mate tea raw materials - Brazil, whose exports account for 53% of the total mate supplies, Argentina - 37% and Paraguay - 10%.

Properties of mate tea

Mate, in general, is recognized as a safe drink for health, but steaming the powder with too hot water, close to the boiling point, increases the risk of containing carcinogenic substances in the finished drink. For this reason, the International Agency for Cancer Research has classified yerba mate tea in Group 2A, which contains substances that can cause cancer.

Mate contains a certain amount of vital vitamins and minerals for the human body, in particular vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E and a sufficient amount of phosphorus, iron and calcium.

Mate tea and cancer

A review of a number of population studies in 2009 revealed facts about the connection between cancer of the esophagus and regular consumption of hot mate. Such studies, however, are not completed - it is necessary to prove or disprove the fact that the appearance of cancer cells depends on the consumption of the mate drink, and not just hot drinks, which also increase the risk of tumors in the esophagus.

In addition, researchers from the US National Cancer Institute, with the support of their Brazilian colleagues, determined that under the influence of boiling water on yerba powder, after infusion in water, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - benzopyrenes, which have an active carcinogenic property, begin to appear and, over time, increase their concentration some harm to mate tea. Moreover, the concentration of benzopyrenes is much higher in tea raw materials treated with smoke at the time of preparation than in the yerba variety of raw materials, the preparation technology of which does not regulate smoking. From which it was concluded that carcinogenic substances enter the drink due to combustion products and are not contained in the holly leaves themselves.

Calabash - traditional drinkware

Antioxidants of mate tea

Paradoxical as it may seem, parallel studies show that the drink has a significant effect in the fight against cancer cells, thanks to a large number of polyphenolic antioxidants, the concentration of which is much higher than in green tea, which indicates the benefits of mate tea.

Studies conducted at the University of Illinois in the US from 2005 to 2011 found inhibition of colon and oral cancer cell proliferation.

On average, mate tea contains about 92 mg of the powerful antioxidant chlorogenic acid and no catechins, allowing it to significantly increase the antioxidant level of the drink compared to classic teas.

Antimicrobial and antifungal properties of mate tea

An aqueous solution of mate shows high activity against the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), which causes serious digestive pathologies, and the fungus Malassezia furfur, which causes dandruff and similar skin diseases.

Cardioprotective effects of mate tea

American studies in 2007 found that daily consumption of mate tea in a volume of at least 0.5 liters increases the level of enzyme activity that stimulates the formation of substances that prevent the formation and accumulation of cholesterol - a lipoprotein, which in large quantities leads to vascular sclerosis, which is fraught with strokes, heart attacks and other diseases based on vascular pathology.

Other beneficial properties of the chemical composition of mate tea

The mate drink contains polyphenols that benefit the immune system and reduce the risk of allergic reactions and diabetes by lowering overall blood glucose levels.

Mate also contains chemical compounds that burn calories and act as an appetite suppressant, which helps you avoid gaining excess weight.

Due to a sufficient amount of caffeine, mate increases the overall tone of the body, increasing the volume of oxygen supplied to the heart muscle, helps to activate the central nervous system and, as a result, improves mood, the ability to concentrate and concentrate.

Use of mate in different countries

In addition to the classic mate, the raw materials of which are filled with hot water, in Paraguay and North-East Argentina a separate drink called “terere” is prepared from it. To prepare terere, the calabash with yerba is filled with cold water or fruit juice, possibly with the addition of various spices and herbs.

In Uruguay and Brazil, the calabash always has a large hole, but in Argentina, especially in the capital, the vessel is smaller and the filler hole is much smaller. In addition, Argentine mate lovers prefer mate with sugar.

In all countries where mate is actively consumed, you can often meet a porter on the streets with a supply of utensils, tea raw materials and a thermos of hot water, who with great pleasure, for a small fee, will sell a weary traveler a complete set of the finished drink.

In some areas of Argentina, gas stations provide free hot water, especially for travelers who might enjoy yerba mate on the go. There you can also purchase special containers, the interior of which contains separate cells for transporting the necessary utensils, thermos and tea raw materials.

In grocery stores in Argentina you can always find bags of dry mate for disposable brewing in a regular glass or mug. Such bags, in large volumes, are exported to Europe, where the use of mate from traditional calabash has never become fashionable.

Some Middle Eastern countries, such as Syria and Lebanon, are the largest importers of yerba mate. Tea preferences appeared there thanks to the Arabs who moved to South America at the beginning of the 20th century and returned to their homeland.

Today, ready-made mate accounts for about 7% of the total volume of cold drinks on the shelves of grocery supermarkets in the United States and Canada. Mate in these countries is often sold bottled in plastic, glass and aluminum containers with or without gas.

How to brew mate tea

To properly brew mate tea you will need: dry mate powder, calabash, bombilla, flat disk - you can use a regular CD, an electric kettle with warm boiled water and a cup, preferably with a drain spout.

The water in the kettle must be heated to a temperature of no more than 75-85 degrees. You can determine the required temperature level by the appearance of the first bubbles.

The calabash must be filled with powder to at least two-thirds of its total capacity.
Cover the calabash with a disk and tilt it on its side. Shake several times to ensure that larger particles of powder end up at the bottom of the calabash. This technique subsequently prevents the holes of the bombilla from becoming clogged with small particles of powder.
Return the calabash to the reverse position at an angle of 45 degrees, making sure that the fine dust of tea powder is collected at the very top.
Fill the calabash with hot water from a cup, along the inner wall. As the calabash fills, gradually return it to a vertical position. You can also pour water directly from the kettle, controlling the volume.
Close the mouthpiece of the bombilla with your thumb, turn its curved end towards the wall of the calabash and insert it into the mate mixture to the very bottom.
Rotate the bombilla 90 degrees to release the hole.

In the homeland of mate, there is a ritual of drinking among a general circle of friends. The "tea master", called "sevador", always takes the first sips from the bombilla before passing the calabash around. It would be considered a great insult to come to a tea party with your own bombilla, which could be done for hygienic purposes, since the drink is passed around and each guest must take only one sip before passing the calabash to his neighbor. You should thank someone for drinking tea only once - at the end of the ceremony, since this is considered a sign of leaving.

Among the variety of teas, herbal infusions occupy a special place. Most traditional recipes belong to some nationality: for example, honeybush and rooibos came to us from Africa, catuaba from Brazil, and lapacho from Argentina. The homeland of the increasingly popular mate (mate), which is made from holly leaves, is Paraguay. Read about the beneficial properties of “green gold” - an ethnic drink of the indigenous population of Latin America - and contraindications to its use.

Useful properties of mate

Experts call the drink something between tea and coffee. Mate acquires the tea “mood” and taste due to the fact that the technology for collecting and fermenting holly leaves is practically no different from preparing green tea varieties. And it owes its stimulating and invigorating properties to matein, which is a chemical analogue of caffeine.

Mate is useful not so much due to the richness of its chemical composition, but because of its unusual effect on the body. Tea can simultaneously calm a person and help him concentrate, putting him in a working mood. But first things first. The positive properties of the drink include:

ability to act as an antioxidant: by blocking free radicals, mate fights premature aging;
increasing immunity and fighting viruses and bacteria;
positive effect on the functioning of the digestive system and the liver in particular;
cleansing the body of toxins and waste;
reducing the level of bad cholesterol, preventing atherosclerosis;
stimulation of thinking processes, concentration and memory due to the content of large amounts of phosphorus;
activation of the central nervous system in general: increased endurance and performance;
mild diuretic effect.

In addition, the drink normalizes the level of adrenaline (stress hormone) in the blood and is recommended for those who suffer from a nervous disorder, insomnia, or have experienced a traumatic situation.

For men, mate is a natural remedy for increasing muscle mass and even stimulating potency. The fair half of humanity often uses the drink to lose weight and rejuvenate the body.

Table: Comparison of the chemical composition of mate and pu-erh

	Pu'er	Mate
Energy value
Calorie content	152 kcal	136.7 kcal
Squirrels	20 g	20 g
Fats	5.1 g	5.1 g
Carbohydrates	7.4 g	7.1 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A	50 mcg	50 mcg
Vitamin B1	0.02 mg	0.07 mg
Vitamin B2	0.21 mg	1 mg
Vitamin C	130 mg	10 mg
Vitamin PP	3.6 mg	11.32 mg
Macronutrients
Potassium	21 mg	2480 mg
Calcium	22 mg	495 mg
Magnesium	19 mg	440 mg
Sodium	38.4 mg	82 mg
Phosphorus	4 mg	824 mg
Microelements
Iron	23 mg	83 mg

It is noticeable from the table that despite the identical energy value of the drink, mate is superior to pu-erh tea in the amount of vitamins, macroelements and iron in its composition.

The only thing in which the Latin American drink is inferior to its Chinese “relative” is the vitamin C content.

You can purchase high-quality mate tea using this link - https://elitnie-chai.ru/travyanie-chai/mate.html

Video: Where did tea come from and what are the benefits of it?

Contraindications and possible harm

Since mate contains a sufficient amount of the stimulating substance matein, the drink is contraindicated for people with hypertension in the acute stage, those in the acute period of a heart attack or stroke, and those with diseases of the stomach and intestines.

Due to the diuretic effect, drinking tea is undesirable for urolithiasis, kidney failure and acid-base balance disorders in the body. Also, removing fluid from the body is dangerous during fever: consuming mate during this period can lead to dehydration.

The indigenous people of Paraguay have many rules for brewing holly leaves. For example, the traditional utensil for preparing the drink is calabash (or calabash) - a small gourd with a peeled core, and it is drunk using a special reed straw - a bombilla.

In modern conditions, the calabash is made of ceramics, wood or porcelain, and a bombilla can be replaced by a metal tube. And, of course, to get to know the drink, you can simply drink it from a cup. The main thing is to follow the recommendations of doctors:
Do not make Paraguayan tea a drink for daily use. Without harm to your health, you can drink this natural stimulant one cup 3-4 times a week;
do not drink mate too hot - its temperature should be comfortable for the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat - 60–65 degrees;
drinking a drink before bed is a bad idea, unless, of course, your goal is to stay awake all night;
It is not advisable to drink tea on an empty stomach: the active components will negatively affect the gastric mucosa;

It was not for nothing that the Indians used bombilla during tea drinking: the active components of the drink can destroy tooth enamel. Therefore, if you do not have the opportunity to use a straw, drink mate in small sips and do not let it linger in your mouth for a long time. You can add milk, honey, sugar, jam and other sweeteners to tea.

But to enjoy the traditional taste of mate, drink it without additives, slowly, savoring every sip.

Mate during pregnancy: is it possible?

Doctors are very wary of herbal drinks during pregnancy: their effect on the body of the expectant mother and the developing child has not been studied enough. Therefore, it is extremely undesirable to drink mate during the happy nine months:
in the early stages of pregnancy (in the first trimester), exotic tea can be dangerous: it causes contraction of the uterine muscles and increases the risk of miscarriage, and also interferes with the normal absorption of iron, which is extremely important for the development of the fetus;

in the second and third trimesters, the drink is also undesirable, but those women who drank mate a lot and with pleasure before pregnancy can afford half a cup of tea once a week if they really want it.

Despite all the benefits, nursing mothers should also avoid mate - the high content of stimulants can have an unpredictable effect on the nervous system of the child who receives them along with mother's milk. Eliminate the drink from the diet at least until the baby is seven to eight months old, when he will receive complementary foods and begin to breastfeed less.

Then, if you really want to enjoy your favorite drink again, try it little by little: drink a quarter cup of mate in the morning for breakfast and observe your baby’s reaction throughout the day. If he behaves as usual, sleep and appetite remain at the same level, you can drink 1 cup of lightly brewed tea 1-2 times a week.

When can children try tea?

The stimulating effect of the drink also explains the fact that it is prohibited for children under 6–7 years of age: parents are unlikely to be happy if an already energetic baby refuses to sleep at night and turns the house upside down. Schoolchildren are allowed mate, but only in the first half of the day and no more than once a week.

Pancreatitis

In the acute stage of inflammation of the pancreas, it is not advisable to drink a stimulating drink - pain and nausea may increase. After a week, you can return to mate, but drink it warm, not hot. The maximum allowed dose is a cup of tea 1–2 times a week.

Diabetes

Scientists have proven that regular consumption of mate prevents type 2 diabetes in obese patients, and also reduces blood glucose levels in pre-existing disease. It is recommended to drink tea in small sips in the morning 2-3 times a week. All sweet additives are, of course, excluded.

Cholecystitis

The stimulating effect of the drink is useful for cholecystitis. To improve the flow of bile and alleviate the condition, it is recommended to drink 40-50 ml of mate before lunch throughout the entire period of exacerbation.

Gastritis and peptic ulcer

Mate is strictly prohibited in case of exacerbation of inflammation of the gastric mucosa and peptic ulcer, as it causes vasospasm and an increase in the duration of the disease. During stable remission, enjoying your favorite drink, although undesirable, is still possible: drink half a cup of weakly brewed mate no more than once a week.

Mate for weight loss: fact or fiction?

Indeed, mate is often used as an assistant in gaining a slim figure. The biologically active substances and stimulants included in the drink can literally dissolve fatty deposits and remove them from the body. But this only works if you adhere to the principles of proper nutrition and exercise. . The nuances of drinking the drink for a beautiful figure:

do not exceed the recommended dosages of tea - drink no more than a glass 2-3 times a week;
half an hour after drinking tea, exercise is recommended: it will be more energetic, and you will be less tired;
Drink tea without added sugar or other sweeteners.

Mate - a drink of youth and health

The Mate drink, which is based on the unique plant Yerba Mate, which is being studied today by leading scientists from around the world and used in various branches of medicine, becomes a healthy alternative to the usual tea and coffee.

The beneficial properties of Mate are numerous, the effect of this truly miraculous drink on the body is complex - it increases vitality, saturates the body with vitamins, increases immunity and general tone of the body, and a lot of other positive effects. Mate can rightfully be called a drink for those who choose a healthy lifestyle and an active lifestyle today!

In Russia, Yerba Mate has also gained incredible popularity; you can find this drink in an assortment on the pages of our Yerba Mate website.

What is Yerba Mate?

The Yerba Mate plant, or, as it is also called, Paraguayan Holly (ÍlexParaguariénsis), has been known to mankind since ancient times. The South American Guarani Indians began to use it many centuries ago, however, science began to study this plant in detail relatively recently, having finally noticed the pronounced positive effect that it has on the human body.

The uniqueness of Yerba Mate as a plant is that, unlike other plants, whose chlorophyll is not absorbed by the human body, Yerba Mate's chlorophyll is completely absorbed. This means that when consuming Yerba Mate, a person receives a colossal energy boost (Yerba Mate, by the way, is the most nutritious plant in the world) - the blood is enriched with oxygen and nutrients, and numerous protective mechanisms of the body are activated.

Modern scientists, having conducted comprehensive studies of this extraordinary plant, have come to a single conclusion - the characteristics of Yerba Mate are exceptional, there are no analogues to it.

Mate contains almost all the vitamins necessary for normal human life: A, B1, B2, niacin (B3), B5, complex C and E, as well as useful minerals: calcium and zinc, manganese and iron, selenium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, fluorine and iodine. In addition, the plant contains life-sustaining nutrients: carotene, fatty acids, chlorophyll, flavanols, polyphenols, inositol, antioxidants, tannins, pantothenic acid and a wide range of amino acids.

It is safe to say that Mate restores the human body at the cellular level - it reduces the level of hypoxia, has a general strengthening effect, helps strengthen the immune system, stimulates the activity of the heart muscle, enriching it with potassium. A drink from this unique plant is especially relevant for residents of megacities who are deficient in many useful substances and are in a state of constant stress and poor environmental conditions.

Mate is a natural safe stimulant

Today, scientists say that Mate will soon become more popular than coffee or tea, and also that this drink is a healthy alternative to these stimulating infusions.

Indeed, Mate has a stimulating effect on the human body in the same way as Ceylon tea or coffee does, but, unlike caffeine present in the latter, the active ingredient of Yerba Mate is mateine - this is the plant’s own alkaloid, which has no analogues.

The fundamental difference between mateine and the well-known caffeine is that it does not have a direct effect on the heart muscle, however, the tonic effect of this alkaloid is more pronounced and lasting. Matein affects the activity of all internal organs, and there are no side effects in the form of increased heartbeat or nervous tremors.

Moreover, Mate has a calming effect on the nervous system, leveling the psycho-emotional state - it improves mood, increases endurance and stress resistance, phosphorus accumulates in the nerve endings, memory improves, and fatigue goes away.

The effects of Mate on the human body: amazing facts

Some people have noted that after drinking mate, they need less time to sleep, at the same time they feel a surge of strength and energy, and their sleep cycle is not disrupted. It turns out that under the influence of Mate, the body quickly and efficiently plunges into the stage of deep sleep, and this allows it to get complete rest in a shorter period than usual.

By the way, this drink is also very useful for those who suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure), since Mate dilates blood vessels and helps normalize blood pressure.

Another amazing property of the drink is its absorbent properties. It has been observed that drinking mate has a positive effect on people who have suffered from food poisoning. Symptoms of intoxication, exhaustion and dehydration recede, and the body’s condition quickly returns to normal.

It is useful to take Mate during a cold or flu; it has pronounced antibacterial and antipyretic properties, and in addition, a diaphoretic effect. When drinking this drink, any fever goes away much faster.

Mate will also be useful for those who care about their weight - the drink contains virtually no calories, and it makes it easier to stick to any diet or maintain the results achieved with its help.

So, Mate has a number of unique properties and characteristics; there is no more useful infusion that affects the human body as effectively and efficiently. The complex action of the active components of the drink provides numerous benefits, and all of them are combined with one more, not least important one - the infusion has a very pleasant taste!

And finally, another advantage of Mate is that it is useful for all people, regardless of their gender and age - both men and women, the elderly, and children. This wonderful infusion will give everyone joy and health!

Fashion is not only about clothes and shoes. Exotic drinks are also fashionable, one of which is mate tea. South American today occupies almost the top line in the ranking of drinks. The raw materials for mate are young leaves and sprouts of Paraguayan holly. This is an evergreen shrub, its height reaches 15 meters, grows in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. The raw materials for tea are pre-dried and crushed.

For Latin Americans, the drink mate is tantamount to a gift from the gods. It was also used by the Guarani Indians, who used it to cure all sorts of ailments. An interesting legend will tell us about the origin of this amazing drink. Once God went on a journey, accompanied by servants. The travelers spent the whole day crossing the dense jungle and by the end of the day they lost strength. But the path led them to a clearing, and the travelers saw a small hut. Here lived a decrepit old man with a daughter of extraordinary beauty. The hospitable hosts treated the tired travelers to dinner and provided them with a roof over their heads.

The next morning God asked the owner why they lived alone. The old man dejectedly said that he feared for his child, since her beauty could attract dashing people. God paused meaningfully, then said: “Yes, your daughter has extraordinary beauty, but all people should admire her. Old man, I can make your daughter’s beauty admired by the whole Universe!” At the same moment, he turned the girl into a small tree that was very similar to a willow. From the leaves of this tree they began to brew a pleasant and fragrant tea, which later received the name “Mate”.

When did mate appear in Europe?

Mate tea appeared in Europe at the beginning of the 17th century. It was brought by the Spanish conquistadors. It fell in love with the conquerors of the seas and new, unknown lands, who appreciated not only the taste of the drink, but also its healing properties, since mate very effectively fought against scurvy. But the Europeans themselves reacted coolly to the new product. Paraguayan tea did not become an everyday drink. But doctors liked it: they used its leaves not as tea leaves, but as an aromatic additive to balms or alcohol tinctures. They still did not know the chemical composition of holly leaves, but they appreciated its healing qualities. At the beginning of the 20th century, Europe forgets about this extraordinary drink. However, today fragrant tea is extremely popular.

How to brew mate tea

It is customary to drink mate not from cups or glasses, but from special jugs made from mati gourd (they differ in shape from the usual fruit and resemble a pear). Such jugs were called calabashes. Thus, the mother gourd gave the name to tea. And you need to brew it only in calabash, in this case the specific taste and healing qualities of the drink will be preserved.

How to make a calabash? Very simple! You need to cut off the top of the pumpkin, remove the contents, and dry the container well. Craftsmen trim the edges of the container with metal, and decorative carvings are applied to the sides. Sometimes the vessels are encased in silver and leather. Today on sale you can find calabashes not made from pumpkins, but silver or wooden ones. And the vessels vary in volume: there are large ones from which you can drink a group of friends; There are small ones designed for one person.

Bombilla is used to drink mate. This is a metal tube. It can be straight or curved. On one side of the bombilla there is a mouthpiece, and on the other side there is a strainer shaped like a pyramid. Of course, you also need a kettle. Otherwise, how to boil water? The procedure for preparing tea was called “sevar”, and the one who brews the tea began to be called “sevador”.

The calabash is filled with mate to a quarter of its volume, after which the vessel is tilted, so the tea leaves are on one side of the vessel. Then a little cold water is poured into the container and the jug is left alone for a few minutes: the water is allowed to saturate the tea leaves, and the mate takes on a mushy consistency. After that, a bombilla is inserted into the vessel and water is poured, the temperature of which does not exceed 70-80 ° C, otherwise the tea may lose its beneficial properties and become bitter. In two minutes, the favorite drink of Latin Americans is ready. Drink mate in small sips.
The ceremony of drinking this tea has become a certain sacred rite for South Americans, which has been formed over several centuries. The process of brewing this divine tea does not tolerate haste and fuss.

To enjoy the taste of this extraordinary drink, you will have to spend about an hour and a half. Therefore, it should not be surprising that people drink mate in the company of numerous friends, with relatives, while conducting a leisurely and sedate conversation.
There is no need to be upset if you cannot purchase a calabash, bombilla and a special strainer, but you really want to taste this exotic drink. In this case, you can use this method. Do you cook for yourself every morning? Then you will cope well with making mate. The proportions will just be different. You will need a liter of water and five large spoons of mate. Well, I think every home has a strainer.

Do not love ? You can use cold mate. Pour 2 spoons of mate into a teapot, fill it with water, the temperature of which is about 80°C, you can add sugar or honey. The tea should be steeped for about 10-12 minutes. Before you start pouring the tea, put a few pieces of ice in a cup or glass, you can also use vanilla.
Milk mate is also prepared. For half a liter of milk heated to a temperature of 60°C, take 2 spoons of mate, a little sugar (honey), mix, bring to a boil. The milk drink can be consumed both hot and cold.

Useful properties of mate

The mat contains a great variety of useful substances. These include tannins, beta-carotene, B vitamins, vitamins E, C, P, as well as sodium, sulfur, potassium and other trace elements. All this makes mate tea an extremely healthy drink. Regular consumption of mate tea normalizes blood pressure and improves heart function. Choline removes cholesterol from the body, pantothenic acid helps restore damaged cells; the activity of the immune system is stimulated. For diseases of the stomach and intestines, mate is used as an antispasmodic, as it relieves inflammation of the mucous membranes, resulting in normal digestion.

Mate tea can be called an immunostimulant. The drink is a good tonic. By consuming it, you will increase endurance, stress resistance, improve your mood, and strengthen your nervous system. Mate can be recommended to athletes because it relieves fatigue and helps remove lactic acid from the body, which accumulates in the muscles.

This tea can also be recommended to smokers and alcohol lovers, since systematic drinking of it helps eliminate bad habits, and it is also useful for men because it increases potency.
A study was conducted at the Pasteur Institute in France, as a result of which they discovered another substance in the mat - matein. Mateine is a natural stimulant, and its effect is comparable to that of caffeine. The difference is that matein does not cause tachycardia and overexcitation. And the stimulating effect of mateine is longer than that of caffeine. Despite this, mateine does not have a negative effect on sleep. Moreover, mate lovers came to the conclusion that their sleep became serene and sound, and their strength was restored much faster.

Harmful properties of mate

Undoubtedly, mate has many beneficial qualities, but it can also have harmful effects. It has been found that there is a direct connection between drinking mate tea and cancer (in particular, esophageal cancer). This fact is explained by the fact that drinking a hot drink leads to a burn of the esophagus and cell degeneration, and the carcinogens contained in the mat accelerate and aggravate the process. Researchers have also suggested that carcinogens cause cancer in other organs, such as the bladder and lungs. These facts are the result of research conducted by Uruguayan scientists at the Institute of Oncology in Montevideo.
The results of these studies are relevant primarily for residents of those regions where mate tea is drunk in large quantities. If you drink 1 cup a day, then this will not be a risk factor for you.