What is maté and what are its benefits?
First of all, you should know that maté leaves are different from tea leaves. These two drinks have neither the same origin nor the same caffeine content. What's more, maté is prepared in a very specific way, in a calabash using a special whisk. It is enjoyed with a bombilla, a straw specially designed for this drink. As you will have gathered, drinking maté is an art in itself!
Yerba maté, a traditional energising drink
Before you sip from the calabash and taste this subtle blend, let us tell you a little about maté. It comes from a South American tree of the holly family, known as Ilex paraguariensis or yerba maté.
To prepare it, the leaves are dried, then chopped before being infused in hot water. In indigenous cultures, this traditional drink is widely consumed across South America.
Used as a stimulant, maté contains more caffeine than tea, but less than coffee. Packed with antioxidants and vitamins (A, C, E, etc.), this drink gives you a boost first thing in the morning as well as throughout the day! White, green or flavoured, maté is also said to be an ally for vitality and slimming. It may help the body eliminate sugars and fats more effectively while boosting energy levels. However, do be cautious with these health claims, most of which can be overstated. Maté leaves will not make you lose weight strictly speaking.
What are the health benefits of yerba maté?
Flavoured maté with South American notes is a plant that is believed to bring many benefits to the body:
- It may help fight fatigue by providing energy
- It boosts metabolism
- Thanks to its antioxidants, it may help fight the development of certain diseases and premature cell ageing
- It is thought to have a draining and detox effect (especially when paired with green tea)
Maté and iron deficiency: could it be the cause? What are its effects?
Like any stimulating drink such as tea or coffee, maté could have side effects, mainly linked to the caffeine released into the beverage during brewing. But what about its impact on iron absorption? Does maté really affect the iron in your body?
What is in a cup of maté?
A maté calabash contains 70 mg of caffeine. Please note that the maximum recommended daily caffeine intake according to Santé Publique France is between 200 and 400 mg.
Does drinking maté limit iron absorption?
It can be in certain cases. The tannins released into maté water may limit the absorption of non-haem iron. This trace element present in our body plays a vital role in our cells.
Anaemia, breastfeeding and pregnancy?
Information regarding maté should be approached with care. Everyone has a different tolerance to caffeine, and side effects can occur, even if they are rare. Nothing can replace the advice of your doctor. If you suffer from anaemia or have any doubts, please seek advice from a healthcare professional.
To avoid any discomfort, Kusmi advises you to enjoy your maté between meals (2 hours before or after) and to consume it in moderate quantities.
How do you prepare maté properly?
You will need a calabash, a bombilla, and some maté leaves.
1-Boil some water in a kettle. Be careful: the temperature should not exceed 80°C, otherwise you risk damaging the leaves when pouring the water into the calabash.
2-For 1 litre of simmering water, we recommend adding 5 g of yerba maté to the calabash. The brewing time is generally a few minutes (up to 10 minutes depending on the taste and intensity you desire). Maté can be infused several times.
3-Then savour this hot, invigorating nectar using your bombilla.
Kusmi Tea, organic maté & made in France
Kusmi offers quality products made in Normandy with natural, organic ingredients. Our organic maté blends are carefully selected. Treat yourself to a detox maté flavoured with grapefruit or ginger!
Yerba maté is therefore a great alternative to coffee or tea. A hot beverage from South America, it is renowned for its boost effect. Its tannins could limit iron absorption, especially when consumed during meals or in excessive quantities. As everyone has a different tolerance to caffeine, we recommend consulting your doctor if you have any doubts or questions.