Yerba Mate

Yerba Mate

How about a date with Yerba Mate? It will seduce you to enjoy its unique and distinctive flavour. The legends about the stimulating powers of the South American beverage are true. Yerba mate is becoming increasingly popular. Firstly, because it offers a unique range of flavours, and secondly, because the consumption itself is a pleasant and extraordinary ritual. Mate is even making its way into all sorts of eateries. Worth the attention of any ManuManiac.

Paraguayan holly - another secret of the Amazon rainforest

It is widely known that the Amazon is the area with the greatest biodiversity in the world. It is also well known that not even all the scientists in the world have an overview of the animal and plant species living in the Amazon basin. Yet these ''lungs of the planet'', as the rainforest is often referred to, are slowly disappearing. In the last thirty years, a third of the vegetation has been destroyed to make space for palm trees and soya.

Before we return to the plant from which yerba mate is made, let us recall the age and extent of the Amazon rainforest. Estimated to have existed for 55 million years, it covers an area of 7 million square kilometres, 5 % of the Earth's surface.

It is important to realise what a unique and fragile ecosystem the native Paraguayan holly (the source of Yerba mate) comes from. As you savour the earthy and fizzy beverage, it will make you feel the uniqueness of each tree, the importance of each plant and the irreplaceability of every animal on Earth.

The evergreen Paraguayan holly tree (Ilex paraguariensis) can grow up to 20 metres in normal conditions. Such large hollies would be found in native habitats, i.e. around streams and in forests 500-700 metres above sea level. For harvesting purposes, however, they are kept at shrub height, i.e. a maximum of eight metres. Holly is cultivated by farmers in Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and southern Brazil.

Yerba mate wards off fatigue, detoxifies and boosts immunity

The list of health benefits of consuming Yerba mate is indeed long. Get ready for a truly comprehensive list of the most amazing benefits that drinking tea can ever bring. Here we go! Yerba mate contains caffeine, tannins, theophylline, vitamins A, B, and C, antioxidants, essential oils, minerals and many more. Although an infusion of the leaves of the Paraguayan holly was prepared by the American Indians, it was not until the 1980s that scientists confirmed its extraordinary health benefits.

What can Paraguay holly do?

1. First of all, it stimulates the mind and body. It stimulates, prevents fatigue, improves concentration, and clears the mind.
2. In terms of digestion, consuming the infusion suppresses feelings of hunger, promotes digestion and contributes to faster fat loss. It contributes to the restoration of damaged gastric and intestinal mucosa.
3. Special attention should be paid to the detoxifying potential of Yerba mate. It helps to flush out harmful substances from the body.
4. It has a positive effect on optimal cholesterol levels and benefits the kidneys and heart.
5. Yerba Mate increases immunity and strengthens physical condition.