The Most Nutritious Tea

Jun 17, 2011 by Tatianna

 

There is a very popular saying – ” Coffee awakens your mind and body. Yerba Mate awakens your soul! “.

This is not just any tea, it’s an extremely nutritious drink, and it has a higher antioxidant capacity than regular green tea. As little as one serving of Yerba Mate contains about 7 g of fiber, about 9 g of protein, 10 mg of Iron, 600 mg of Potassium and a little over 200 mg of Magnesium. To top that off, it also has small quantities of Vitamin B1 and B2, riboflavin, carotene, pantothenic acid, inositol and 15 types of amino acids.

Yerba Mate has properties similar to caffeine which provides incredibly clear energy levels and mental alertness.
The stimulant this energy comes from, is a unique form of xanthine ( a stimulant in coffee ).  It’s like coffee that’s stripped from all of the negative effects and only left with a positive. It’s stimulates central nervous system without being addictive or give you anxieties. Unlike caffeine, Yerba Mate induces better sleep.
This tea provided enough nutrients to act as a vegetable. Some people refer to it as a “drinking a salad.”

 

Benefits to the Immune System

When consumed in the traditional method, it boosts the immune system and helps to treat common cold and flu viruses. It’s because Yerba Mate is full of polyphenols – a powerful antioxidants that strengthen the organism’s natural defenses and protects it from cellular destruction. Another benefit of this tea is it’s ability to detoxify cells.

 

Preparation

Traditionally Yerba Mate is prepared in a gourd and consumed with a metal straw called bombilla,  it looks like a spoon with holes at the bottom.
But you can also make it in a coffee pot the same way you would brew coffee. Don’t place too many tea leaves because the tea expands and it will overflow.

Oh, I almost forgot – never use boiling water for Yerba mate, the water should be hot but not boiled.

 

This is the kind I always get

 

 

I like the traditional Yerba Mate better vs the one that comes in little bags.  But you should try out different flavors to see which one you like better.

To get the benefits of Yerba Mate you should drink at least one or two cups a day.