What is Yerba mate?

Yerba mate is a tree that grows in the basins of the Paraná, Uruguay and Paraguay rivers, in a south American region that covers the three-limit zone between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. The natives of this zone, the Guaraníes, have used this vegetable since ancient times for its nutrition and healing properties.

Today, Yerba mate is used extensively not only in those countries, but in others such as Uruguay and Chile, in which it has forged a strong cultural tradition. Today its use is different from the ancient way of the Guaraníes, who used to soak its leaves for days and then drink this beverage for healing various diseases (rheumatic, intestinal, etc.) and as a comforting elixir that provided force and energy.

Currently, it is consumed as an infusion, which is made in two predominant ways:

• As a tea, for which Yerba mate is strained or by the commercial packets in the form of bags for preparing tea.
• In the curious ritual of “mate cebado”, for which a small glass is used (called mate) made from natural fruits, wood or metal; the bombilla, a metal tube with perforations on its lower side which, when submerged in the mate with the herb serves as a straw and strainer simultaneously. Mate is served with hot water, but there is a cold version called “tereré”.

This custom is widespread through a vast region of south America and has very strong cultural connotations. Yerba mate is consumed more for this tradition than for its nutritional and healing properties.

Collaborated in this article: Dr. Hugo Golberg

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