What is Yerba Mate?

Yerba Mate has become a common ingredient in the new "ephedra-free" weight loss and energy supplements. It is also becoming more popular in the US in its traditional "drinkable" form. But many people want to know what this strange-sounding substance is. The nice people at Pure Chi provide a good description:

Yerba Maté is an evergreen tree, a native member of the Holly family, which is cultivated in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The native Guarani people who depend on the plant for food and medicine have used Yerba Maté for thousands of years. It was "found" in the early 1500's by Spanish explorers, who introduced it to Europe. Traditionally, Yerba Maté is steeped in a gourd then passed around to be shared in social circles with friends and family. Today, Yerba Mate is a favorite drink throughout South America and in North America Yerba Maté is becoming a common ingredient in diet products.

Yerba Maté has many nutritional benefits including: vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids. The stimulant in Yerba Maté is called mateine. It is similar to caffeine but without the negative side effects such as stomach ache, jitters and the energy crash.

When I lived in Buenos Aires a few years ago I drank several piping-hot "gourds" of mate per day. I learned to love it after a few weeks but it's definitely an acquired taste, especially for Americans. Luckily you can now purchase Yerba Mate Ice Tea which makes a healthy, delicious, and natural low-carb energy drink!