Yerba mate

Types of Yerba Mate in the Time for Tea store

In addition to a complete kit designed for the proper preparation of Yerba - calabash, bombilla and matero, we have a range of delicious and varied types of yerba mate in the store. The assortment starts from the body- and mind-stimulating classic Yerba Mate, through Yerba with additives such as. cherry, thyme, strawberry or guarna, to tasting sets consisting of five selected types of tea, and - a novelty - WildPower teas (IQ, VERY BERRY, LEMON, WILD ENERGY, YOGA, ARGENTINA DESPALADA, CRAZY CHERRY, DESPALADA, PARAGUAY DESPALADA), which are available in 400 g packs and sets with matero and bombilla.

How to brew Yerba Mate?

Yerba Mate tea is easy to brew, but only if a few basic rules are followed: the temperature of the boiled water should not exceed 80 degrees Celsius. The infusion will be best when prepared at 65-80 degrees Celsius - this will avoid the bitter taste of badly brewed Yerba. The dried leaves are poured into a cup to a height of ¼ to ¾ of the volume, then poured over the crushed leaves. It is important to wait a while and allow time for the dried leaves to brew thoroughly.

Yerba Mate is best prepared in a special cup - a calabash, using a filtering tube - a bombila. Some dries happen to be particularly intense - then you can allow yourself a few refills of water. It is also not an obstacle to add your own additives to the brew - herbs or honey.

Properties Yerba Mate

Yerba Mate is primarily a wealth of vitamins - A, B1, B2, C, iron, magnesium, potassium, silicon... It is also a high content of alkaloids: theobromine, theophylline and caffeine, whose main task is to stimulate the body, provide energy and reduce fatigue. A cup of holly infusion provides more vitamins and minerals than a cup of tea. In addition - unlike coffee - stimulation of the body with the brew is less rapid, longer and more effective. So you can confidently call Yerba Mate a healthier substitute for coffee.

Tea made from the leaves of the Paraguayan holly also exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, helps fight obesity, fights bacteria in the digestive tract and reduces the incidence of bone fractures.

Yerba Mate - origins

The history of Yerba Mate tea dates back to around the 15th century, when the Indians of the Guarani tribe discovered the beneficial effects of the wild leaves of the Paraguayan holly, picked at the time. They noticed that simply chewing these green leaves stimulated the body and mind, while further reducing fatigue. The dwindling number of trees, due to ignorance of their further cultivation and propagation, led to a celebration of each cup drunk.

Yerba Mate is the dried and ground leaves of the Paraguayan holly tree. This tree has been adopted only in Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay and it is there that the leaves are harvested, which then, in the form of powdered leaves, land in our cups.

The largest amount of Yerba Mate is sourced from Argentina. This is where the two main varieties of this dried product are made: traditional (con palo) and despalada (sin palo). The former contains the leaves and tiny sticks of the holly plant, while the latter is exclusively medium crushed leaves.

The classic and probably best-loved mate tea originates from Brazil and is simply called "mate." Its ground leaves, along with small sticks, produce a delicate flavor and a pleasant, natural aroma.