“I reached the place of our vibouac by sunset and drinking much mate, soon made up my bed for the night. The wind was very strong and cold, but I never slept more comfortably.” – Charles Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle, 1936
Picture by @carolitahome (https://www.instagram.com/carolitahome/)
Billions of people start their day with a hot cup of coffee or tea, but in some parts of the world, especially in South America people wake up with a drink most of us may not be familiar with, Yerba mate.
It is officially the national drink of Argentina where 500 million dollars worth of it is consumed every year (in 92% of all Argentinean household.) It is called “the green gold of the Indios” and is said to offer the “strength of coffee, the health benefits of herbal tea and the euphoria of chocolate.”
Picture by @berni.dit (https://www.instagram.com/berni.dit/)
What is yerba mate? It is a green leafed shrub, a species of the holly family, original of subtropical South America. It tastes very grassy and is similar to green tea. If you haven’t been raised on it, you might find the taste slightly weird. But still, the consumption is increasing worldwide because it improves how people feel. So what are the health benefits?
- It provides a smooth and the most balanced increase of energy. It doesn’t have any side effects like coffee, black tea or chemically produced energy drinks.
- It boosts mental function of all kinds, boosts memory, mood, alertness.
- It is a nutritional powerhouse loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
- It has a long history of traditional medicinal uses like digestive aid, stimulant, weight loss, nerve illnesses, fatigue, depression (Argentina has the lowest rate in postnatal depression), allergies and sinusitis.
- It boosts the immune system.
- It helps with weight loss.
- Its a natural antibacterial and is a digestive and elimination tonic.
- It helps to build strong bones.
- With its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties it keeps the heart healthy.
- Last but definitely not least, it’s extract kills cancer cells.
Picture by @berni.dit (https://www.instagram.com/berni.dit/)
If you’re not a fan of a hot drink, you can also drink a cold-brewed yerba mate. Combine cold water (or fruit juice like orange and lemonade) with Yerba (in a tea infuser) and leave it for a couple of hours, preferably over night in the fridge. Add some honey or fresh mint leaves to taste. Another option is to combine yerba with grapefruit juice, cucumber slices and fresh mint leaves.
I was introduced to Yerba mate about 10 years ago and fell in love with the drink and the tradition. At the beginning I drunk it with lots of sugar, now I drink it pure. If you ever have the chance to try it, please let me know what you think. If you google some famous names in Argentina or around the world like Lionel Messi, Maradona, Luisana Lopilato (Michael Buble’s wife), the Pope or even Barak Obama, they all love their Yerba Mate.
Where to buy in the U.K. – https://urushop.co.uk
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