Yerba Mate

Yerba mate is a highly caffeinated tea that seems like the type of thing that would be popular in parts of South America or maybe Nepal. Guayaki is marketing it here as a tea-slash-energy drink. It is rich in polyphenols such as caffeine, caffeic acid, catechin, epicatechin gallate and quercetin. These polyphenols have antioxidant activity, the ability to scavenge oxidative stress causing free radicals. It can be used for weight loss, physical and mental fatigue, nervous depression, rheumatic pains and psychogenic and fatigue related headaches. In Germany it has become popular as a weight-loss aid and appetite suppressant. It is a South American shrub, which is cultivated so that its tender shoots and leaves can be harvested.

The dried shoots and leaves are used to create a beverage called mate, which is one of the most popular beverages in South America. It is an evergreen tree that reaches a height of 60 to 90 feet, although the cultivated versions are kept at 12 to 18 feet. This finicky shrub grows only in locations with iron-rich, acidic soil and a semi tropical climate with at least 57 inches of rain per year. It is a member of the holly family, evident by its leathery leaves. It grows wild in the rainforests of Paraguay (where it is cultivated). Yerba mate is generating a buzz in Hollywood. Alicia Silverstone swears by the organic version to help give her healthy energy to get through long days of filming on the set. It is a drink native to South America, considered similar to green tea in both composition and taste. Although it is not a typical tea, it is called a tea for its similarities to other drinks and due to the fact that it also contains nutrients and chemicals associated with very few side effects.

This herb is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using this product. It is enjoyed by people throughout South America and it's a very social activity. Take a sip from the bombilla and pass it on to your companions; it's much more social and pleasant to share it with your friends, unless you're germaphobic. Yerba Mate is reputed to induce mental clarity, sustain energy levels, improve mood and increase libido. It is known as the national drink of these countries and is consumed by millions of South Americans as a healthful alternative to coffee. This stimulating herbal beverage has the unique ability to wake up the mind without the nervousness and jitters associated with coffee. The mate is traditionally prepared in a gourd, filtered through a bombilla and enjoyed in a communal ritual passing the gourd from one person to the next.

It is known for its effects of sustained energy, mood elevation, mental clarity and appetite control. The plant contains 196 active compounds, including 24 vitamins and minerals and 15 amino acids. Yerba mate is a dioecious plant, meaning that the male and female flowers are born on separate plants. The fruit is a very small globular double berry that is green when new, turning a brilliant red-purple with maturity. Yerba mate is a totally unique blend of flavors that is often compared to a combination of green tea and coffee. There is a distinctively leafy flavor to mate that I've yet to find anywhere else. It is judged very good when it consists of a mild, earthy, woody, and long lasting taste with only a hint of bite. Yerba Mate is an invigorating tonic to the body and mind. It is more than just good for the body; it's good for the soul. Drinking it can be a form of meditation or reflection - allowing the goodness to infuse into the body while stimulating and resting the mind.