Smartest Foodie

Yerba mate, or mate drinks, have been around for thousands of years. Recently, this energy boosting tea has become a sought-after ingredient in many popular energy drinks. So, what is it and is it worth a taste?

The History of Yerba Mate

Yerba mate is a specific type of tea that is brewed from the leaves and twigs from an evergreen holly bush called Ilex paraguariensis. This plant is native to South America.

People started to enjoy mate drinks a very long time ago. It was originally popular with the Guarani and Tupi people who lived in Paraguay. After the Europeans arrived, the popular drink spread across South America. While the leaves and twigs were originally foraged in the wild, yerba mate tea became so popular that people started to grow the plants on commercial farms.

There are many different ways to enjoy a mate drink. Traditionally, it is brewed in a cup made from a gourd. Hot water is combined with the leaves and twigs and a specialized straw fitted with a filter is used to drink it. The gourd is passed around a circle where each person takes a few sips. The hot water is replenished when needed.

These days, mate drinks can be ordered in cafes or brewed at home in a modern mug anywhere in the world. The leaves and twigs can be purchased as loose tea or in tea bags. Many energy drinks use yerba mate as an uplifting ingredient.

Benefits of Yerba Mate

There are a number of reasons why mate drinks have been popular for so long. Yerba mate contains a number of healthy, naturally occurring compounds that can be beneficial, including:

• Caffeine – Yerba Mate is a natural source of caffeine. It contains less caffeine than coffee yet more caffeine than black tea. Many people enjoy the gentle energy boost they get from yerba mate. Some say that mate drinks give them the energy of coffee without the jitters.

• Polyphenols – These powerful antioxidants help to protect against serious conditions like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Some sources suggest that yerba mate contains more antioxidants than green tea.

• Improve athletic performance – Many high-level athletes use yerba mate to help them to perform better. They believe that ingesting the plant helps them to feel less fatigue and improves muscle contractions.

• Metabolism booster – There have been some studies that showed that ingesting yerba mate increased weight loss and boosted metabolism. Many people say that mate drinks help them to feel less hungry throughout the day, too.

What to Avoid in a Mate Drink

Since there are many energy drinks on the market that use yerba mate as an ingredient, it is important for consumers to know what to look for in a healthy beverage. Many mainstream energy drinks include high levels of sugar, too much caffeine and are full of artificial ingredients. Try to avoid mate drinks that have added refined sugars since many of these have as much or more than a regular soda.
While the natural boost of caffeine from a mate drink is nice, too much caffeine is not good. Check out the label to make sure that there isn’t more than 90 mg of caffeine in each drink. It is also important to keep an eye on serving size. Some drinks have 80 or 90 mg of caffeine per serving, but there are multiple servings in each bottle or can.

Choosing the Best Mate Drink

The best mate drinks do not contain any artificial ingredients, including dyes and flavor. Look for a drink that uses delicious fruit juices for both sweetness and taste. The best types of natural energy drinks not only use yerba mate, but they also include a number of other natural adaptogens. Read the ingredient list and keep an eye out for beneficial ingredients like Yanomami mushrooms, Suma root, acerola cherry, guarana, marapuama bark, green tea and ginger. These powerful adaptogens work alongside the yerba mate to boost the healthful properties of this drink.

Overall, yerba mate is a beneficial drink that can help most people to feel energized and focused. If you are looking for a mate drink that is not just straight tea, make sure to check the ingredient list. Avoid excessive sugar, too much caffeine, and artificial flavors. There are great mate drinks on the market that are healthy and delicious.