Yerba Mate

I’m really not one to imbibe in coffee but sometimes I need a little early morning or pre mountain bike race jolt, which is when I turn to steeping yerba mate tea.

Gleaned from leaves of a South American shrub, this national drink of Argentina contains three peppy stimulants: caffeine, theobromine (the ‘happy’ chemical in chocolate) and theophylline, without coffee’s jitters. Each cup of brewed loose leaf mate has roughly 85 milligrams of caffeine compared to 135 in coffee.

Traditionally used as a digestive aid, mate is awash in vitamins, minerals and active antioxidant phytochemicals, such as chlorogenic acid, not found in other teas. A new study in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that subjects with high cholesterol numbers who consumed mate 3 times daily for 20 days significantly improved their cholesterol levels. Saponin compounds in this uber-drink are thought to help reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and inflammation. Moreover, a 2009 animal study in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that mate’s phytochemicals may squelch oxidative damage to organs, such as the liver.

The flavor of yerba mate may remind you of green tea but even more grassy. Admittedly, it took me a little while to get used to it but once I did I was hooked on its vegetal flavor.

Though mate is now widely available in tea bags, I find that loose-leaf yerba mate outside the bag is the best way to enjoy it. It’s easy to prepare with a tea leaf strainer available at most kitchen gadget stores. A French press also works marvelously. Or you can go the traditional route and prepare it in a gourd with a metal straw. A mate latte can be had by adding milk and a sweetener of choice.



















When brewing up mate, it’s best to use a water temperature around 190 degrees (steam with large, lazy bubbles) and steep the leaves for 3 to 5 minutes. Unlike most teas, it does not become bitter when steeped for extended periods, and the leaves may be infused several times.

Consistently one of the best mate brands is green savvy Guayaki (www.guayaki.com). They have a wide selection of fair trade, rainforest grown loose leaf, bagged and bottled mate products.