What is mate?

Mate is a South American infusion made from the dried leaves of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis), a tree of the holly family grown in Argentina, Paraguay and southern Brazil. It's traditionally drunk from a gourd, through a bombilla; it contains caffeine and polyphenols, and can also be enjoyed in tea bags or as a simple infusion.

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".

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's also credited with certain virtues: we go through the benefits of mate, and their limits, on a dedicated page.

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. In South American tradition, it's associated with good digestion after a meal.

Its caffeine, released gradually, helps you stay alert without coffee's spike: that's why people drink it against fatigue, physical or mental.

Mate as part of a weight-management plan

Drunk plain, mate contains no calories, and many drinkers find it has a filling effect: it's a good stand-in for a snack or a sugary drink. It won't make you lose weight on its own; we explain what you can really expect from it in our article on weight management with mate.

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 because it hydrates and provides minerals afterwards, 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's a stimulating drink that brings 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.

Now you know what mate is. To taste it, start with our organic yerba mate or, if you're new to it, with a complete mate kit, gourd and bombilla included.

To go further

• Where to buy mate in France? The list of mate stores
• Are You A Real Matero? 5 Telltale Signs
• YVY Maté opens its first boutique in Paris: dive into the world of mate
• From the soil to the cup: How is mate grown?
• Everything you need to know about yerba mate blends: From Chimarrão to Tereré
• Mate: A journey into its history and origins
• Mate expressions explained in less than 5 minutes
• A unique gourd for Pope Francis: Discover our story
• Barbacuá mate: a dangerous traditional drying method?