Thread: Yerba Mate Tea

Hello all,

I have heard of Yerba Mate tea and the method of drinking it for years but until recently have never tried it. The tea is traditionally steeped loosely with warm, not hot water, in a hollowed out decorative gourd and then sipped through an ornate nickel straw(called a bombilla) that has a filter on the end to prevent loose tea particles from getting in your mouth. The leaves of the tea comes from the Yerba Mate shrub which is a type of holly, which grows in South America.

The practice of drinking Mate tea can also be social in nature. The gourd is filled with tea and water, drank and then passed on to the next person where the process starts all over.

I recently found the mate tea and all the accessories at a local whole foods market and decided to experience it first-hand. The tea was fantastic. As a former smoker, I always enjoyed the smell of cigarettes and tobacco. The smell and taste of mate tea is reminiscent of tobacco. It has a very smooth flavor and a light bodied taste. The tea can be found mixed with other herbs and even roasted with barley and chicory to replace coffee.

Here is the down side though, as I was doing some research on the web I came across a few sites which correlate the drinking of mate tea to certain types of oral and lung cancers. I thought this interesting, as the bag of the mate tea states that it is filled with wonderful antioxidants. I guess not all antioxidants are good for you. Also, like all things, you have to take it in moderation. One study suggests that the method of drinking the tea through a nickel plated straw could be the culprit.

Has anyone ever experienced negative effects from mate tea? Is the research a sham? Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Kyle

I've read similar reports, but then I've also read reports that disagree with the apparent negative findings.

I bought a 5# bag of organic Yerba Mate some time back and still have a little left. I've committed sacrilege all along with it by brewing it in a french press rather than a gourd and bombilla (is it pronounced bom-bee-zhah?).

They have stainless bombillas or even sterling silver I believe.

I was actually looking recently at buying a gourd and bombilla and preparing it the traditional way. No one in my house would have interest in drinking it other than me so I couldn't pass the gourd to anyone.

If you do get a gourd and bombilla, be sure to post pics here and I'll do the same.

Chris L

I found no negative effect, but I found it to taste like dirt. Juan.

I got into it for a while. It's good stuff.

I did read back and forth on the pros/cons. I never came to a conclusion myself.

The stuff gives you tons of energy. A very clean energy without a crash or anything though... not like caffeine.

Originally Posted by pjrage

I got into it for a while. It's good stuff.

I did read back and forth on the pros/cons. I never came to a conclusion myself.

The stuff gives you tons of energy. A very clean energy without a crash or anything though... not like caffeine.

I found the same thing about the energy without the crash.

Chris L

Viva la bombilla!

I love mate, especially for the no crash energy that I find from it! I heard that it is good for detoxifying the body and helping the immune system too. The quality of the yerba mate you buy makes all the difference though, I believe--some of the cheap mate is terrible and does taste like dirt, but if you buy it loose from the right source it can make a really nice tea. I enjoy the social aspect of the gourd and bombilla, as well. Sip, sip, pass!

My FIL introduced me to el Yerba years ago and it remains a major consumption of mine. It is VERY good to drink and I wouldn't put much stock in the cancer scare at all. I usually use a stainless bombilla in a mug. I find the gourds are too small. They don't hold enough tea. When brewing for a group, we also use a french press ... or at least we did until my FIL broke ours and hasn't replaced it yet. I usually drink Sara brand but the FIL prefers Taragui.

HAHA Something I know well!

My fiancee is Argentine so we drink a LOT of Mate.

First thing - ditch the gourd, seriously adds a funky flavor. There are other devices that are much better. If I figure out how to transfer pictures I will show you my crystal Mate. They also make a travel mate that is like a thermos (I will have to show this too when I figure it out).

You can add orange peels, honey, parsley, mint, her brother even put tobacco in mine once.

I can only speak for Argentina customs and culture. This was me at Rio Cuatro enjoying some Mate in July (note the jacket HAHAHAHAHA)

(this is easy, link to facebook)

Love mate.