Yerba Mate Tea Health Benefits

“My final question is regarding the temperature of the leaves. I have read the current article on your website regarding how many of the Uruguanians boil and boil their water before adding to the leaves and I have also read other articles that states that the water used to infuse shouldn’t be above 84 degrees C, otherwise some of the nutrients in the leaves could be lost? In your experience which is the best option?”

-Paul - UK

It’s true Uruguayos will boil their water until it scalds the mouth. Don’t ask me why, they just drink it muy, muy caliente.

My gaucha’s (wife’s) family is from Uruguay and even though I drink my yerba mate hot the traditional way I usually get my hot water from a preheated water cooler (which is not that hot). My gaucha’s used to it now too:)

I’ve seen reports that suggest that drinking it too hot can cause throat (esophagus) cancer which is why I usually pass if it’s hot enough to make me jump! Further tests revealed that the percentage of cases was too small to be linked with drinking mate too hot.

I just prefer to drink my yerba mate “non-boiling” because I find it more enjoyable. I have not heard any claims that suggest that hot yerba mate kills nutrients. Please feel free to share your source of information.

I should also mention the paraguayos are in the habit of drinking it “terere” which is the term for cold mate. I’ve had yerba mate prepared terere before and maybe it’s by habit, but I did not like it.

I guess I am just too used to a warm mate going down the old pipe.

Until next time… I’ll be drink my yerba mate hot…but not too hot!

“The medium-hot but still Happy Gaucho”