In South America, Yerba Mate is as natural a part of everyday life as coffee is for us Norwegians. It’s drunk during breaks at work, enjoyed with friends in the park and used by athletes before training. Yet it is still unknown to many people at home. .

What is yerba mate tea, and why has it become such a central part of South American culture and everyday life?

An herb with deep roots

Yerba Mate is an herbal drink made from the dried leaves and stems of the Ilex paraguariensis plant.. This plant grows naturally in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern parts of Brazil.

For hundreds of years, tea has been part of the daily life of the people in these countries. Originally, the plant was used by the Guarani people, also known as the indigenous people. They used the tea for both medicinal purposes and social drinking.

In the 17th century, the drink was continued by Catholic priests from the Jesuit order, also known as Jesuit missionaries. They carried out missions in South America and continued the use of Yerba Mate after learning about it from the indigenous people. Their missionary work meant that the tea became a daily ritual in the region. (Gawron-Gzella et al., 2021).

The name and the ritual

The name Yerba Mate has roots in both Spanish and Quechua (the indigenous language of South America).

Yerba means herb, while Mate comes from “mati”, which is the word for gourd – the classic cup from which tea is drunk.

Traditionally, the tea is served in a hollow gourd and drunk through a metal tube called a bombilla, which acts as both a straw and a sieve. In several South American countries, it is customary to pass the gourd around in a social circle, where everyone drinks from the same cup ( Gawron-Gzella et al, 2021).

Although this way of drinking is still common, today there are many variations to enjoy Yerba Mate:

• The tea can be brewed as regular loose tea.
• To be drunk as an iced tea, with added citrus.
• Added as an extract in energy drinks, supplements or functional food.

A nutritious source of energy

Despite the fact that the tea is basically simple, with just leaves in a cup and hot water added, the content is anything but simple. Yerba Mate is full of nutrients.

Among other things:

• 1-2% caffeine, which provides energy and sharpens focus.
• Theobromine, known from cocoa, is a mild stimulant.
• Chlorogenic acid, a powerful antioxidant.
• Flavanoids and saponins, which have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.
• Minerals such as potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and selenium.
• Vitamins such as B1, B2, C and E.

The combination of these nutrients makes Yerba Mate interesting for many. The tea not only provides energy, but it nourishes and supports the body’s immune system ( Heck & De Mejia 2007).

Tradition, community and lifestyle

In Argentina, almost 90 percent of the population drinks Yerba Mate regularly. While we Norwegians often walk around with a paper cup of coffee, Argentines walk the streets with gourds.

Tea is not only drunk because it is good for your health, but herbal tea is a part of life. Just like the coffee cup is for us.

In conversations, during breaks, on long car journeys or in social situations, many people use gourd and herbal tea. The tradition creates a sense of belonging, and the rhythm of the drink follows the pulse of the day (Gawron-Gzella et al, 2021).

Here in Norway, on the other hand, Yerba Mate is still relatively new, but interest is growing. More people are discovering that the tea provides energy without the same restlessness that coffee can cause, and many appreciate that it gives the body a more balanced feeling . (Lutomski et.al, 2020).

How to use Yerba Mate in everyday life?

As Yerba Mate is new to many Norwegians, it can be confusing to know how to use it. Yet it’s quite simple.

You don’t need a gourd or a bombilla to drink Yerba Mate, although it can be a fun way to try it.

There are several ways to use Yerba Mate in everyday life.

Drinks like regular tea

It can be prepared like regular tea, either loose or bagged, in hot water. It can be drunk from a regular glass with the same preparation process as in gourd. Yerba Mate is never drunk loose in water, but can be drunk with a filter, filter press or filter in a thermos.

A fresh iced tea

In Paraguay, it’s often mixed with cold water, lemon and ice, resulting in a cold and fresh iced tea.

A milder energy drink

Many people use the tea as a milder energy drink before training or competitions. Whether it’s drunk cold or hot. The tea has also become a favorite at work or in studies, because the tea provides steady energy without a caffeine crash.

Who drinks Yerba Mate?

Yerba Mate is moving from being a niche product to a more mainstream drink, also here in Norway.

The tea attracts more users:

• Athletes who want natural energy and focus.
• Students who want mental clarity without overstimulation.
• Health-conscious people looking for alternatives to caffeine and functional foods.
• People who want a new morning routine or a quieter break from coffee.

Today, Yerba Mate is drunk in urban city environments, in gyms, at home, in the office or reading room.

Research and health effects

Yerba Mate today combines tradition and recent research. It is not only a social drink, but also a product with documented health effects.

By research already conducted, several studies have found the following effects of drinking Yerba Mate :

• Increased cognitive performance.
• Increased fat burning and insulin sensitivity.
• Better cholesterol levels.
• Stronger immune system.
• Anti-inflammatory properties.

This makes the drink interesting for both public health and performance (Gawron-Gzella et al, 2021). Yet it’s not just the health effects alone that explain why people drink Yerba Mate daily. It’s the sense of presence, calm and natural energy.

A cup with more than caffeine

Drinking a cup of Yerba Mate isn’t just about nutrients and caffeine content, but rituals and routines. A break. A moment to yourself, or with others.

And maybe that’s exactly what we can learn from the South Americans: That a cup of something green and bitter can become a ritual, a habit that provides both calm and focus in a busy day.