Yerba Mate Tea

(Ilex paraguariensis)

Yerba mate — Ilex paraguariensis — is one of the most culturally significant botanical beverages in the world, consumed daily by tens of millions of people across Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. The Guaraní people of the Río de la Plata basin — who called it the “Drink of the Gods” — have been preparing and drinking mate for centuries, long before European contact, and the tradition of sharing mate from a communal gourd (mate) through a metal straw (bombilla) remains one of the most distinctive social rituals in South American culture. Yerba mate is prepared from the dried and aged leaves of Ilex paraguariensis, a holly-family tree native to the subtropical Atlantic Forest of South America.

Ilex paraguariensis leaves contain a well-documented and unusually rich phytochemical profile. In 1964, the Pasteur Institute conducted a study on the nutritional composition of yerba mate and noted its remarkable breadth of nutrients — a reflection of the plant’s exceptionally diverse phytochemical content. The profile includes caffeine (typically 0.7–1.7% of dry weight — comparable to coffee), theobromine (the primary alkaloid of cacao), theophylline, mateine (a term used in South American tradition to describe the xanthine alkaloid complex of mate — chemically identical to caffeine but consumed alongside theobromine and theophylline, which modulate its character), chlorogenic acid (one of the highest concentrations of any commonly consumed beverage plant), caffeic acid, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, apigenin, myricetin, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, alpha- and beta-amyrin, saponins (including matesaponins 1–5), tannins, vitamin C, vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6, vitamin E (tocopherols), vitamin K, calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, iron, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and selenium.

A note on mateine and caffeine: Yerba mate contains caffeine — this is well established. The traditional South American term “mateine” refers to the xanthine alkaloid complex of mate, which includes caffeine alongside theobromine and theophylline. Many mate drinkers report that the experience of mate’s caffeine differs from that of coffee — a perception often attributed to the presence of theobromine (which has a longer, gentler stimulant profile than caffeine) and the high chlorogenic acid content of the leaf. This is an area of ongoing botanical and nutritional interest.

The Guaraní Tradition: The Guaraní people of the Río de la Plata basin have consumed yerba mate for centuries and attribute its discovery to a “white-bearded god” who left it as a gift — to be shared during times of celebration and sorrow alike, and to sustain the community through daily life. The communal sharing of mate from a single gourd, passed from person to person, remains one of the most enduring social traditions in South America.

How to Brew

Traditional Gourd Method: Fill a mate gourd ⅔ full with yerba mate, insert a bombilla (metal straw with filter), and pour hot water (not boiling — 160–175°F) over the leaves. Steep 2–3 minutes and sip through the bombilla. Refill with hot water repeatedly — a single gourd of mate can be refilled many times. Western Infusion Method: Steep 1–2 teaspoons per 8 oz of water at 160–175°F for 3–5 minutes and strain. Important: Do not use boiling water — it makes mate bitter and harsh. Iced: Brew double-strength at 160–175°F, steep 5 minutes, strain, and pour over ice for a refreshing cold mate.

⚠️ Caffeine Note: Yerba mate contains caffeine — approximately 30–50mg per 8 oz cup depending on preparation. Not recommended for individuals sensitive to caffeine, during pregnancy, or for children.

Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Not for use during pregnancy without consulting a qualified healthcare provider.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.