- Region
- South America
- Origin
- Subtropical forests of Paraguay, north-eastern Argentina and southern Brazil, in the Paraná basin
- Other names
- Maté
South America · Food · № 15
Ilex paraguariensis
Food · South America
Yerba mate
Ilex paraguariensis
The leaves contain caffeine, theobromine and polyphenols; the drink is stimulating and dispels tiredness, like coffee or tea. It is a beverage and social drink, not a medicine.
Safety notes
Contains caffeine: bear in mind sleep, heart rate and medication. Do not drink mate hotter than 65 °C: according to the IARC very hot drinks are probably carcinogenic to the oesophagus.
Cautions by tradition (2)
- Healing traditions of the Americas: Contains caffeine; do not drink hotter than 65 °C.
- Kallawaya healing in Bolivia: Contains caffeine; not in the evening and not with heart complaints.
Preparation
The dried, ground leaves (yerba) are covered with warm, not boiling, water in a gourd and drunk through a metal straw (bombilla), refilled each time. As tereré with cold water and crushed herbs.
Use in traditions
An ancient drink of the Guaraní, who call it ka'a. In the 17th century Jesuits grew the shrub in their missions; today mate is the national drink of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. The gourd is passed around a circle and refilled each time. Tereré, the cold variant from Paraguay, has been UNESCO intangible heritage since 2020.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Healing traditions of the Americas
Attributed effects
The Guaraní drank ka'a as a stimulating and nourishing drink; mate is shared as a sign of friendship. Cold tereré with herbs is regarded as refreshing in the heat.
Preparation and amount
In a gourd with warm, not boiling, water, drunk through a bombilla; as tereré with cold water.
Caution: Contains caffeine; do not drink hotter than 65 °C.
Kallawaya healing in Bolivia
Attributed effects
For tiredness, an upset stomach and nerves. Bastien suggests that the guayusa leaf from the ancient healer's tomb at Niño Korin was later replaced by yerba mate.
Preparation and amount
Pour hot, not boiling, water over a tablespoon of leaves.
Caution: Contains caffeine; not in the evening and not with heart complaints.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)Powder and kitchen
- Recipes
- Tereré, cold mate with yuyos