Alexis · Fondateur d'YVY Maté
At the end of a meal, we always choose between tea and coffee to finish on a high note.
Sometimes we hesitate a little, but most of the time the choice comes down to these two classics. Yet you should know there's now another option: mate, also known as "mate tea".
This plant comes to us from South America, and contains both caffeine and polyphenols.
But what is mate? What are the different kinds of mate? What are its benefits? How do you drink it?
What is mate?
Mate is a plant drunk as an infusion, much like tea. It originates from South America - more specifically Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.
It is generally drunk for its beneficial effects on the body and overall well-being. It also has a few wellness virtues of its own.
History and origins of mate
Long ago, yerba was a dietary staple of the Guarani peoples.
Back then, mate leaves were consumed when men prepared physically for long marches - hunting, working the land, or moving herds.
For some peoples, such as the Guarani, yerba was regarded as nothing less than a religion. They also used it as currency when trading with other communities.
After the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, the drink began to be studied, before spreading to the four corners of the world.
The Guarani and mate
The different types of mate
The different types of mate
This South American drink is unusual in that it comes in several versions: green, roasted and aged.
The difference is mainly one of taste, since the same leaves are behind all three nuances:
- Green mate is young, herbal and fresh.
- Aged mate is, as its name suggests, aged for 6 to 24 months, giving a more concentrated, pronounced taste.
- Roasted mate goes through low-temperature roasting to develop round, original flavors close to coffee.
Want to compare all three? Discover our Green Mate, our Aged Mate and our Roasted Mate — or the Discovery Pack that brings them together.
The benefits of mate
This hot drink has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. Like tea and coffee, it is increasingly becoming a classic.
The question is: why drink mate tea?
The benefits of mate
Mate, an everyday well-being ally
This South American hot drink can be enjoyed daily, in the morning as well as in the early afternoon. First, the plant helps support the digestive system: yerba mate works internally to ease digestion.
Regular drinking also helps sharpen the nervous system. Drinking organic mate daily makes it easier to fight fatigue, whether physical or mental.
Mate, a weight-management ally
Yerba also has diuretic qualities. It can support weight management, thanks to its natural appetite-soothing effect.
It also works internally, contributing to the body's overall balance. Yerba helps bind certain substances, making them easier for the body to eliminate.
Behind the scenes: mate and sport
Increasingly popular among athletes, this South American drink is a true ally for sport. Initially drunk by the South American community - think Cavani, Di María or even Messi - yerba mate now wins fans far beyond those borders.
Much appreciated for its energizing virtues before exercise, and for its ability to support muscle recovery, mate is part of the pre-match ritual of a certain Antoine Griezmann.
Antoine Griezmann and his pre-match mate
The ways to drink mate
Yerba can be enjoyed throughout the day: in the morning, at midday or mid-afternoon. It is a plant used in herbal wellness, stimulating the body and bringing it energy and comfort.
Drinking mate all day naturally involves the ritual of preparing it.
There are traditional methods, and more modern ones shared with tea and coffee.
Some are simply more convenient than others - the right preparation depends only on your lifestyle and activities!
Preparing mate
How do you prepare mate? Here are the main ways to prepare this South American hot drink for tasting.
Traditional mate preparation
For traditional mate preparation, you'll need a few essential accessories:
- A mate gourd, or mate cup, which holds your leaves.
- A mate bombilla - a metal mate straw that filters the leaves from the water.
- A yerba mate, preferably organic.
Fill your gourd with your yerba, add water while tilting the gourd - and that's it!
For more detail, take a look at our preparation tutorial:
The more "modern" methods
Beyond the traditional preparation, there are also several more "modern" variants.
You can prepare your hot drink with plastic-free tea bags , in a tea infuser or in a French press.
Tea bags are the most convenient: all you need is hot water, then let the bag steep for a few minutes, just like a tea!
To taste all our tea-bag recipes, the 42-Bag Discovery Set is the ideal companion.
