This compendium of knowledge about Yerba Mate will help you form a preliminary opinion about the almost magical powers attributed to holly tea. How much truth is there in these stories? Learn some facts about the properties and types of dried herbs to see if you fit in the world of gourds and bombillas!

What is Yerba Mate anyway?

Yerba Mate is the common name of holly used in Spain. In Poland, Yerba Mate is defined as dried leaves of this tree or a drink prepared from them. The words used to describe this unique tea indicate the herb - the dried material used to prepare the infusion - and the gourd - traditionally used to brew tea.

Types of Yerba Mate

Yerba Mate can be divided into types according to country of origin, type of herb or composition. There are also organic, decaffeinated and cocido drinks. In short it looks like this:

• By country of origin Paraguayan holly stands out for yerba mate Argentinian, Paraguayan, Uruguayan (produced in Brazil for the Uruguayan market) i Brazilian. Their main difference is the degree of fragmentation, which is the smallest in the dried herb from Argentina, medium in the dried herb from Paraguay, and the most fragmented product can be found in Brazilian Yerba. 

• Due to the composition and types of yerba mate attention is paid to the ratio of leaves to dust and twigs of holly, which affects the strength of the infusion and the speed of the diffusion process, i.e. the transfer of aroma and ingredients from the dried material to the infusion. The high content of leaves makes this process slower, so Yerba can be brewed many times while maintaining its properties.

• It is also important Paraguayan holly production process, which determines the flavor profile as well as the chemical composition of individual types of dried herb. Here are some examples:

  • Elaborada con palo it is a classic yerba, where the leaves constitute 2/3 of the volume of the dried material, and the rest are the stems.

  • Despelada/sin palo is an exceptionally aromatic dried Yerba Mate consisting of 90% leaves.

  • Energy it is yerba mate harvested in summer and containing an exceptionally high amount of caffeine.

  • Saborizada yerba mate it is flavored with fruit.

  • Barbacua – as the name suggests - it is smoky thanks to the smoke and fire drying technology used.

Properties of Yerba Mate

There is information that Yerba Mate tea contains almost all the vitamins and minerals necessary for human life (based on research by the Pasteur Institute in 1964). Although this is a kind of manipulation suggesting that the drink made from holly leaves is able to keep people alive, the high content of certain minerals deserves attention: magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, chromium and silicon. This composition of leaves affects the functioning of the cardiovascular system and the brain.

Moreover, the content caffeine has stimulating properties and promotes the weight loss process, and the presence of high concentrations of antioxidants can be an effective way to preventive fight against cancer.

What does Yerba Mate tea taste like?

A characteristic feature of Yerba Mate is its strong, earthy taste, in most cases quite astringent and bitter. As we mentioned when discussing types of dried fruit, the taste depends on the production method and can also be fruity, smoky, or even sweet. Dried yerba mate can also be very delicate. Yerbito, that is Yerba mate in sachets it is characterized by such a delicate and very pleasant taste.

Is drinking Yerba Mate really healthy?

These doubts arise in the face of research suggesting the influence of drinking Yerba mate on the incidence of certain types of cancer. Subsequent research on holly and analysis of previous results indicate, however, that drinking hot drinks may determine esophageal cancer, and not the Yerba Mate infusion itself. Moreover, the analysis of the research groups questioned the credibility of the thesis related to the increased incidence of cancer as a result of drinking holly infusion, because it turned out that most of the respondents had other addictions. However, due to the caffeine content, Yerba is not intended for children, and pregnant women should limit its consumption.

What is in Yerba Mate? 

Yerba Mate mainly contains holly leaves, rich in... chlorogenic acid – being a strong antioxidant – and B vitamins, a certain amount of vitamins You and the previously mentioned minerals, such as: magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, calcium and sodium.

Yerba Mate in sachets

An alternative to drinking Yerba Mate with bombilla and matero is to use filter sachets. Brewing Yerba from a sachet is done similarly to tea, but while maintaining the rules governing the preparation of holly infusion, i.e. hot water at a temperature of approximately 70 degrees Celsius.

Furthermore yerba mate sachets they look completely different. Drinking yerba mate also looks different then. Yerba Mate in sachets it can be brewed many times, which means maintaining the culture of drinking it and will be an encouragement for traditionalists. Packed without the use of heat, the sachets retain the original properties of the herb and make it possible to drink yerba mate while traveling, at work or in the office. You don't have to give up drinking Yerba Mata even when you're away from home!

How to brew yerba mate in sachets

Brew yerba mate in sachets is extremely simple. Just open the bag and take out the sachet containing the dried yerba mate. After removing it, place the sachet with holly on a cup and pour water of the appropriate temperature over it. When the water pours through the sachet, put the yerba mate sachet aside and you can drink the ready yerba mate infusion. This procedure can be repeated several times.