Everything you need to know about yerba mate – right now!
As a drink, yerba mate (pronouced MAH-teh) has been touted by celebrities, influencers and sports stars for some time now – it even has its own emoji!
But if you’re not yet fully clued up on the energy-boosting benefits that it can bring, don’t worry – we’ve rounded up all the handy need-to-know basics…
What is yerba mate and where does it come from?
Yerba mate is a herbal tea traditionally drunk in Latin and South America. It’s made by steeping the dried leaves and stems of the yerba plant (Ilex paraguariensis), a member of the holly family.
Different countries and regions have their own way of drinking it. In Brazil, the yerba mate infusion is called “chimarrão”. It’s made from the bright green dust from pulverised leaves and has a fresh, grassy smell.
In Argentina it has a more bitter and astringent taste, with a slight smoky note due to its drying process using smoke and fire.
Yerba mate originated in Paraguay. Due to the tropical heat there, the locals prefer it served cold – called tereré – with a mixture of citrus fruits and other herbs. It’s also dried over smoke and fire.
How is it traditionally drunk?
Mate is traditionally drunk from a dried gourd, sometimes called the “mate”. You can also get gourd replicas in other materials, such as ceramic and stainless steel. The mate is filled about two-thirds with leaves. Some warm water – not boiling, as that will burn the leaves – is added to release the flavours.
If being shared, the gourd is passed around the group and the drink is sipped through a straw – called a “bombilla” in Brazil. The bombilla acts as a tea strainer, too. More water is added sporadically, intensifying the taste.
Of course, mate is also drunk by individuals on their own – some people even carry it in a flask to reboot their energy levels throughout the day.
Why is it regarded as a healthy drink?
Often referred to as the “god of drinks”, it’s a smart alternative to other energy-boosting options.
The makers of Virtue Clean Energy drinks, who use yerba mate as a key ingredient, describe it as “a naturally energising leaf packed with 24 essential vitamins and minerals, 15 amino acid – and more antioxidants than green tea”. Antioxidants help prevent cell damage by free radicals. They also protect against various diseases, including heart disease and certain cancers.
Yerba mate stimulates the release of a handy little hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), too. It helps the body produce insulin, suppress appetite and slow digestion.
The various valuable nutrients contained in yerba mate include vitamin C, along with vitamins B1, B2 (riboflavin) and B6 (thiamine). Plus, it provides small amounts of potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese and iron.
Some people claim that yerba mate improves physical performance and their ability to reason, focus and recall information at speed.
How is yerba mate different from coffee?
Mate contains around the same amount of caffeine as a regular cup of coffee or traditional energy drinks – around 80 milligrams per cup. But mate is packed with lots of health benefits and is associated with far more sustained energy.
Unlike synthetic lab-made caffeine found in traditional energy drinks, the caffeine in mate is totally natural.
In other words, you won’t suffer the same jitters, anxiety and energy crash associated with regular coffee or artificial energy drinks.
What – and who – has put yerba mate in the spotlight?
2022’s FIFA World Cup winners, Argentina, took 240kg of yerba mate out to Qatar ahead of the tournament. Their captain Lionel Messi is something of an ambassador for the drink. Hollywood stars Zoe Saldana and Orlando Bloom are also fans of yerba mate, as is Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen.
Back in 2019, the first mate drink emoji debuted following a campaign by a group of Argentinian journalists.
Yerba mate is a symbol of community and family, but it has spiritual roots, too. The indigenous Guarani people of Brazil believed it was a gift bestowed on them by the gods to heal the sick and sustain life.
What other products might you find yerba mate in?
Yerba mate is a popular flavour of ice cream among mate fans. Online you’ll find plenty of recipes for yerba mate cookies and biscuits which provide a twist on the usual baked goodies.
You can also find it in Virtue Clean Energy drinks. They not only contain zero sugar and zero calories, they’re free of artificial ingredients too. Each can delivers 80mg of natural caffeine, thanks to the yerba mate. The result? A tasty, healthy alternative that provides you with all the energy to keep up with the fast pace of modern life without the unwelcome restlessness, jangling nerves, insomnia and energy slump.
Rahi Daneshmand, founder of Virtue, was looking to create “the UK’s cleanest energy drink” – one that’s both good for you and tastes delicious, while boosting mental focus and clarity. Yerba mate provided the answer.
“It super powers our drinks to make you feel good,” he explains.
Fancy keeping it clean?!
There are three flavours of Virtue Clean Energy drinks to try: refreshing peach and raspberry, exotic tropical or strawberry and lime. All the good stuff, minus any compromise on taste, health or quality.
Shop the range today!