YerbanLegend.com

The quick answer is: yerba mate (pronounced YER-ba  MAH-tay) is a tea-like drink of South America; but connoisseurs know that it is much, much more. It is a plant, a beverage, a culture and a tonic for good health. It has centuries of history and its consumption is so highly revered in parts of South America that it is almost a religion.

To quickly introduce you to this amazing herb, the following summary will get you started. These brief facts will be expanded upon in future issues.

•  The terminology – In the United States, the plant itself is traditionally referred to as yerba mate; the harvested herb is referred to as yerba; and the drink is often referred to as simply mate.
• The plant – Yerba mate is often called a tea. The colloquial use of the term “tea” can be applied to many beverages that are made from soaking plants in water. Yerba mate, or ilex paraguariensis, is actually a member of the holly family. It is only found in the rainforest area of South America – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
• The beverage – Today, the plant is harvested, cured and sold in many forms – loose tea, tea bags, powder, extracts, pills, soft drinks and energy drinks. It is consumed both hot and cold. When it is prepared as a cold drink, it is called terere (teh-deh-DAY).
• The culture – The most prevalent South American custom is to drink hot yerba mate from a gourd. It is prepared with a ritualistic procedure (that varies from region to region) and then passed around and shared among friends. The social aspects of sipping from the gourd are almost as important as the health benefits.
• The tonic – Yerba mate contains 196 identifiable nutrients, or active chemical compounds, including: vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, polyphenols, and a low level of caffeine.
• The health benefits – Yerba mate is touted for its power to stimulate the mind and body without the “jitters” associated with coffee. It is also said to: curtail the appetite, increase focus and concentration, act as a gentle purgative, relieve allergy and asthma symptoms, and boost the immune system.
• The history – The native Guarani tribes of South America probably used the leaves of the yerba mate to make beverages and medicines for centuries before the arrival of the conquistadors in the 1500′s. Its evolution and commercialization are well-known since then. Yerba mate became the “gold” that the explorers were searching for and was even dubbed the “green gold of the Indios.”