Argentine Yerba Mate:

Formerly sold as "Unsmoked Yerba Mate", this yerba mate, from northeastern Argentina, is organic and certified fair trade. After being harvested on a small family farm, it is dried using warm clean air. This is much different than the usual way of drying yerba mate with a heat source which emits smoke, and it results in a cleaner flavor. To create a less bitter mate that is easier on the stomach, this mate is aged for a minimum of 9 months, making the final product more mellow and balanced.

The farm that produces this mate is involved in an ambitious reforestation project, and invests frequently in that cause. Along with other family farm partners, they are planting thousands of native trees among their yerba mate orchards. They are also re-acquiring parcels that help them expand their reforestation efforts.

About Yerba Mate:

Yerba mate is a highly nutritious herbal product that is steeped in hot water to make a tea-like beverage. It is a staple of daily life for people in many South American countries. It has enjoyed a boom in popularity in the U.S. as more people are discovering the many health benefits provided by yerba mate. Word spread quickly when Oprah Winfrey listed yerba mate as one of the world's greatest super foods.

Health Benefits / Effects of Yerba Mate:

Yerba mate contains many naturally occurring nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Compared to Green Tea, yerba mate provides higher levels of antioxidants, and produces nearly twice as many metabolism boosting nutrients. Here is some of the positive impacts of yerba mate:

Energy - Yerba mate is a natural energy stimulant, providing an uplifting energy that is good for you. Most experience this energy boost without the jittery side effects of so-called energy drinks. It contains xanthines such as caffeine, theobromine and theophylline. It contains double the caffeine of many teas, but approximately half the caffeine content of coffee. This makes it a great coffee alternative. One can make the switch from coffee to yerba mate and forget about the stained teeth, and many other negative aspects of coffee.

Immune System - Yerba mate is full of phytochemical polyphenols and saponins that have been proven to stimulate the immune system, protect against cellular degradation, and aid the body in preventing disease. Yerba mate also contains one of the highest naturally occurring concentrations of antioxidants. These antioxidants remove free radical intermediates, reducing oxidative stress that may damage or kill cells.

Weight Loss - Yerba mate is used in many countries to aid in weight loss. A study by Charlottenlund Medical Center tested an herbal preparation of yerba mate, guarana, and damiana for gastric emptying and weight loss properties. They concluded that the herbal preparation slowed gastric emptying and reduced the time needed to perceived fullness. This study found that significant weight loss was induced over 45 days in overweight patients that were treated in a primary health care context.

Vitamins and Minerals - Among the many benefits of yerba mate is the fact that it contains many essential vitamins and minerals. One can think of it as nature's multi-vitamin supplement. Actually, research has shown that naturally occurring vitamins found in herbs and food may be more beneficial that the multivitamin pills found in stores. Here is a list of vitamins that naturally occur in yerba mate:

Vitamins: A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, and B Complex
Minerals: Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Magnesium, and Phosphorus
Additional Compounds: Fatty Acids, Chlorophyll, Flavonols, Polyphenols, Trace Minerals, Antioxidants, Pantothenic Acid and 15 Amino Acids.
Inorganic Minerals: aluminum, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, potassium, and zinc

Preparing and Drinking Mate:

You can use a French Press, or any type of strainer bags to make Mate into a tea. This Section shows the more traditional way of brewing yerba mate in a gourd.

Mate infusion is prepared by filling a hollowed gourd up to 3/4 of the way with yerba. Other herbs can be added for additional benefits or to alter the flavor. The ingredients in the gourd are then arranged by the preparer placing the palm of their hand over the opening, turning the gourd upside down and quickly shaking it to allow the finest material to settle near the palm (at the top of the gourd). It is then carefully tilted sideways to slightly upright and shaken gently to settle the material against the side of the gourd creating a slope that angles the material all the way to the opening. The gourd is then very gently tilted back onto its base with its preparer trying to maintain the structural integrity of the slope as much as possible. Some small shifting of the material will normally occur, but this is to be minimized as much as possible.

Some people now pour a small amount of cold water into the empty side of the gourd so that they can wet the yerba and shape/compact it more before inserting the specialized straw known as a bombilla. Others prefer to insert the bombilla with the yerba still dry. Either way, the bombilla is inserted with ones thumb on the drinking end of the straw and at an angle perpendicular to the slope of the yerba.

If not done previously, cool water is added into the gourd, this protects the herb from being scalded (which causes added bitterness to the mate) and prevents chemical breakdowns of some of yerba's essential nutrients. Once the herb has been given enough time to absorb the cool water (usually about 2-3 minutes), the yerba is now ready to be brewed. The preparer carefully steeps the yerba by pouring hot water (approximately 160-180 degrees, but not boiling) into the empty side of the gourd. Once the gourd is filled with the hot water, the Mate is ready to be consumed. The same material can be brewed several times. Pushing the slope of material from one side of the gourd to the other will allow the hot water to reach the other side of the material, allowing it to be brewed even more.