Yerba Maté is a South American herb, traditionally drank from a gourd and using a straw called a bombilla. This bitter, herby, and somewhat woody tasting plant has a rich culture around it. People often drink with others, passing the gourd around and sipping in turns. We source our maté from Argentina, where it's air dried for 12-16 months.
Yerba maté leaves contain 24 different vitamins and minerals, alkaloids, 15 amino acids and abundant polyphenols, making it a highly nourishing caffeinated beverage! The 85mg of caffeine in a cup of maté (and several other chemicals) stimulate the brain, heart, and muscles lining the blood vessels. The average cup contains less caffeine than coffee, but more than black tea.
“Stimulating like coffee, euphoric like chocolate, and with the health benefits of tea," yerba maté is not for the faint of heart. It is a tonic, laxative diuretic, and muscle relaxant, and can reduce appetite. Rumored to increase intellectual vigor. Some say it helps with diabetes, lowering blood sugar if taken regularly. Similar attitudes believe it can help lower LDL cholesterol or “bad” cholesterol.
Curious to learn more? Check out this in-depth blog post from Greta de la Montagne, LMTC herbalist.
