Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is an evergreen member of the holly family that is indigenous to Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. The leaves of the tree have been used as a beverage since the time of the ancient Indians of Brazil and Paraguay. As early as the 16th century, Spanish explorers reported that the Guarani Indians of Paraguay brewed a leaf tea that "produced exhilaration and relief from fatigue." For the Guaranis Yerba Mate was not only a cultural drink shared among friends and family - using the same straw (bombilla) and gourd - it was also used as food and medicine. The Spaniards tried the beverage and liked it, prompting the Jesuits to develop plantations of the wild species.

Over the years, Yerba Mate developed a long and varied history of world-wide use. In Europe, it is used to facilitate weight loss and to treat physical and mental fatigue, and depression. In Germany, it is a popular weight-loss aid and in France Yerba Mate is approved for the treatment of fatigue and as an aid in weight-loss programs. It appears in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (1996) and is indicated for the treatment of fatigue, weight loss and headaches.

Although for many years, Yerba Mate could be found on the shelves in health food stores in the U.S. and Canada, it is quickly becoming a main-stream health and energy drink of choice for many North Americans as it becomes more widely known as a natural energizer and an excellent source of antioxidants and nutrition.

What's All the Fuss About? What's in Yerba Mate?

In 1964, a group of investigators from the Pasteur Institute and the Paris Scientific Society concluded that Yerba Mate contains practically "all of the vitamins necessary to sustain life." Indeed, it is difficult to find a plant in any area of the world that equals Mate in nutritional value.

Many attempts have been made to characterize all or part of the ingredients in Yerba Mate and although there are some differences in opinion with respect to the presence of caffeine, investigators are consistent in their identification of a growing list of vitamins and minerals including: Vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B complex, riboflavin, carotene, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin C complex, magnesium, calcium, iron, sodium, potassium, manganese, silicon, phosphorous, niacine, chorophyll, choline and inositol. IN ADDITION, there are 15 amino acids and 11 polyphenols in Yerba Mate. Recent studies indicate that polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that strengthen the body's natural defenses and protect against cellular destruction.

There has been volumes written about the beneficial aspects of Yerba Mate and some of the reports are nothing short of amazing. Its ability to reduce fatigue, boost immunity, calm depression, aid in weight-loss and reduce stress have long been documented. But there are studies that have also shown it to reduce allergies, overcome the debilitating effects of rheumatism, relieve migraines, assist with substance abuse (smoking, alcohol) and maintain youthful hair colour (retard aging). We encourage you to research it for yourself.

O.K…O.K...So It's Good for Me! But…What's It TASTE like?

Yerba Mate can best be characterized as tasting like a "green tea with a kick." This refreshing beverage has the delicate leafiness of green tea combined with a fullness of body that even a coffee drinker can appreciate. Its delicacy seems to be dictated more by its country of origin and the method of cultivation while its fullness or body is dictated by its final method of preparation.

Yerba Mate is wonderful on its own, but is also an excellent blender that has been used as an active ingredient by several prominent beverage companies in North America in the past several years. It blends well with other teas and various flavor agents such as citrus, mint and even coffee to make delicious hot and cold beverages.

Does It Contain Caffeine?

Despite some claims that Yerba Mate does NOT contain caffeine- rather, a "sleep-friendly" chemical similar to caffeine called Mateine - there IS caffeine in Yerba Mate. It has been phytochemically and scientifically identified, documented and verified and has been assayed to contain between .7 and 2%.

However, other "Mateine" proponents argue that when caffeine binds with the tannins and/or phenols present in Yerba Mate, it becomes a unique xanthine alkoid and posseses the best xanthine properties possible: Like other xanthines (the class of alkaloids that caffeine belongs to) it stimulates the central nervous system, but is not habituating or addicting; it induces better, not worse attributes of sleep and is a mild, as opposed to strong diuretic.

We are not in a position to confirm or deny one argument or another. Clearly, the existence of such a debate means that there is room for further study

How do I Make It?

The Yerba Mate drinker can choose any number of ways to extract the beneficial tea from the herb. It can be brewed like normal, loose-leaf tea and filtered before pouring into a cup. It can be used in an automatic coffee maker or a coffee press. Or, you can follow in the footsteps of the ancients by sipping the Yerba Mate the traditional way - through a bombilla from a Mate cup.