yerba mate

In the Holly family (yes, Christmas holly) Grows up to 45 feet (15m). Simple shaped leaves with serrated edges. Small greenishwhite 4 petal flowers. Red berry-like fruit. Plant contains caffeine and is used as coffee substitute and aphrodisiac. Steep leaves and twigs in hot (not boiling) water. Similar to green tea, maybe a little more bitter. Very popular in South America. Roasting takes away bitter taste, but also many of the beneficial health compounds of the fresh green plant. Doesn’t cause jitters or nervous energy that coffee does. Used to rejuvenate, detoxify body, fight fatigue and increase health and longevity.

Mentioned in

ilex paraguariensis

References in periodicals archive

En Misiones, la produccion de yerba mate se basa predominantemente en la pequena y mediana explotacion, la mayor parte de ellas de tipo familiar.

La yerba mate en misiones (Argentina). Estructura y significados de una produccion localizada

It is this high barrier that keeps Guayaki's Loose Yerba Mate products in premium condition.

Guayaki goes for green Natureflex[TM] packaging

The East Coast isn't far behind, offering yerba mate products in most natural foods stores and Earth-conscious coffee shops.

The new super foods: higher energy organics hit the shelves

* Amanda exports between 7 million and 8 million kilos of yerba mate a year, says Torres, and has sold a dozen Mate Bar stations in Spain and France and this year expects to head to the United States.

Liquid focus

Sellers of yerba mate products claim it raises energy levels, so pairing it with already caffeinated coffee beans could provide quite the boost.

Meth ad to madness

Traditionally steeped and served in a hollowed-out gourd and sipped through a metal straw designed to filter out stems and leaf bits, yerba mate was first consumed by the Guarani Indians centuries ago.

Yerba mate--a better buzz?

Pour yourself a cup of Eco Teas' Yerba Mate ($5.19), of course.

Dorm days: stylish survival tools for campus life

Yerba tea is made from the yerba plant while the local booze is sugar-cane alcohol.

Football: Anibal's secret agents; GERMANY 2006 GROUP B: ENGLAND, PARAGUAY, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, SWEDEN PARAGUAY Previous tournaments: 6 Best finish: 2nd phase

They have sweetened their traditional brew of "yerba mate" with it for centuries.

Anywhere but here: it's not conspiracy that is keeping stevia from being marketed in North America as a food additive--it is lack of submitted evidence of safety

It doesn't matter that I am far from ballerina-graceful at the Dance-Along Nutcracker at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

Traveler's journal: Nutcracker nuttiness