The Mate bush, often called the Mate tree, belongs to the holly genus and is native to South America. The Spanish name "yerba" means "grass." However, under no circumstances can Mate be classified as an herb. It is also often called Jesuit herb or Paraguayan herb.

In addition to our yerba mate, we also offer other types of tea, such as green tea, black tea, white tea, and oolong tea. All of them are carefully selected and packaged to maintain their freshness and original flavor.

But that's not all. We also offer a wide variety of unique herbal infusions , such as chamomile, mint, lavender, ginger, and rosehip. All of them are healthy and beneficial for the body, offering a unique and delicious flavor experience.

History of Yerba Mate

Before the colonization of the indigenous peoples of South America, this beverage was already famous among the indigenous people. Traditional cultivation areas were Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Chile. Most people still drink Mate regularly today.

Yerba mate comes from the leaves of a tree similar in characteristics to the bay tree, with a light gray trunk, up to 50 cm in diameter and an average of 5 to 6 m tall, whose leaves barely reach 10 cm in length and have serrated edges.

It also has some elongated clusters of very small dark lilac or violet balls that are nothing more and nothing less than the fruit of the tree, which inside contains a quartet of seeds, of which only one can germinate, a slow process that can take years perhaps, before they germinate.

The plant grows in temperate, wooded areas, such as the subtropical forests of the province of Misiones. There, it also receives rainfall throughout the year.

Organic Yerba Mate tea is made from the leaves of the mate bush. This tea contains a range of healthy nutrients: magnesium, calcium, vitamins A, B, and C, rutin, chlorogenic acid, saponins, and theobromine and theophylline.

It also contains between 0.3 and 1.5 percent caffeine. Tea has a number of positive effects on the nerves, muscles, and metabolism, as it is said to be diaphoretic, a circulatory tonic, and a diuretic, while also promoting the formation of saliva and gastric juices, thus aiding digestion.

Traditionally, yerba mate is served in a calabash, a container made from the dried rind of a gourd, and consumed through the famous bombilla, a long tube with a filter on one side. However, obviously, not all homes in Europe are equipped with a calabash and bombilla, so the tea can also be brewed directly in a cup.

Preparation of organic Yerba Mate tea

Use three heaping teaspoons of yerba mate in one liter of hot water. The water temperature should not exceed 80 degrees, as boiling water absorbs more flavors and the mate tea can become bitter.

Let the tea steep for at least five to ten minutes. The tea can be drunk cold or hot. The first sip may be bitter. If this is the case, you can discard the water and pour hot water over the tea again for the second sip.

It is also known in several countries that yerba mate is often drunk with milk or mixed with other herbs. On hot summer days, yerba mate can be refreshing with ice or lemon juice.

Benefits of Mate

Among the benefits of mate tea are the following:

Weight loss and diet: For weight loss, yerba mate primarily serves as a natural appetite suppressant, so it should be drunk about an hour before meals. It can also be very helpful in conjunction with a balanced diet: the vitamins, minerals, and trace elements contained in the tea provide necessary balance of nutrients retained in other parts of the body.

Metabolism: Yerba mate has a stimulating effect on our body, from the nerves to the muscles and even the metabolism, everything should work a little faster after drinking mate.

Salivation and gastric secretion: Yerba mate is known to have a significant influence on the production of our bodily fluids. Thus, it not only stimulates sweating but is also a diuretic.

Digestion: Yerba mate shows a slight laxative effect due to the high amount of tannins and acid which is the reason why yerba mate is applied externally for eczema.

Mate is an eco-friendly tea that's good for detoxifying the body and making it function better, making us healthier.

Contraindications of mate

It is said that yerba mate should not be consumed in excess and, in addition, it can be harmful and increase the risk of bladder, esophageal, or lung cancer, due to the high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons incurred in the case of smoke-drying mate leaves.

At Tétique, we pride ourselves on offering our customers the highest quality infusions and teas on the market, carefully selected from the finest tea fields in the world. We are responsible tea distributors committed to caring for the environment. Our team of experts is always available to offer personalized advice and recommendations to meet the needs of your customers in hospitality, café, and restaurant settings.

If you're looking for a reliable company specializing in infusions and teas for hotels, cafes, and restaurants, look no further than Tétique. We're ready to meet your needs and offer you the best teas on the market. Contact us today and discover why we're the best in the infusion industry!