Autumn Bonfire

Yerba Mate is not part of the standard Camellia sinensis plant but comes from a holly plant called Ilex paraguariensis, which is indigenous to South America.  Yerba Mate comes in two versions: Green (non-roasted) Yerba Mate or Dark (Roasted) Yerba Mate, both coming from the same plant but processed differently.  Our Roasted Yerba Mate is a medicinal herb that shares many common health attributes with the tea plant.  Plus, it has a dark, rich flavor similar to coffee.  For many coffee lovers, this is a great tea to transition to without all the stomach and caffeine concerns. Yerba mate is a South American drink brewed from dried leaves and twigs of the holly genus plant, with the botanical name Ilex paraguariensis.  Yerba mate grows as a shrub or small tree that can reach up to 15 meters high. This evergreen holly species produces small greenish-white, four-petaled flowers and red berries. When you brew yerba mate leaves and twigs, the tea is similar to green tea. It is said to be best brewed in hot, not boiling, water. Yerba mate has become known as the national drink of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. The rich tea is said to be a stimulating herbal beverage. Some use it to replace coffee, as it can wake the mind without the adverse effects of coffee. Known in some areas of South America as “The Drink of the Gods”, yerba mate is thought to possess a host of health benefits. Most of which help prolong life. The history of Yerba Mate can be traced back to the semi-nomadic Guarani people of southern Brazil, northern Argentina, and Paraguay. These forest nomads are said to be the earliest known people to harvest and drink the stimulating yerba mate beverage. Legend has it that the Guarani believe the yerba mate tree is a gift a benevolent god gave to a group of weary travelers as a reward for their righteousness. This legend eventually carried on, giving yerba mate tea its “Drink of the Gods” nickname. The Guarani were said to use yerba mate as a daily health tonic. They gathered around a fire to socialize and pass around the gourd of yerba mate. This ancient custom of drinking yerba mate from a gourd became a tradition. Even today, it remains a daily habit for people living in the area. Yerba mate also became a central part of their system of medicine and healing. The tea became an important part of spiritual rituals. It also served as currency for them when trading with the Incas and Charruas. In the sixteenth century, Spanish conquistadores arrived in Argentina. When they arrived, they found the native people drinking yerba mate tea from gourds. The Spaniards enjoyed this stimulating drink. They persuaded the people to teach them how to brew their own yerba mate tea. As demand for yerba mate started to rise, the Jesuits decided to begin harvesting and cultivating it on yerba mate plantations. By the 1600s, they had discovered a way to germinate yerba seeds. As a result, their plantations flourished and expanded yerba mate consumption in Ecuador. But in 1767, the Jesuits were expelled. With them, all their knowledge of yerba mate cultivation was lost. Forest harvesting continued until the early 20th century. As a result, people rediscovered the secret to yerba mate seed germination, and plantation cultivation became a reality once more. Today, plantation cultivation of yerba mate continues in parts of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay. The custom of cultivation has remained pretty much unchanged, and the custom of drinking yerba mate tea has gone global. In many areas of South America, yerba mate tea remains a social ritual, and people continue to drink it for its taste and how it makes them feel. What Is Yerba Mate? And the History of Yerba Mate Amigofoods