YERBA MATE TEA
WITH LOVE FROM
ARGENTINA
By Anish Narang*
Y
erba Mate (Mah-tay) Tea is a native tree (Ilex
Paraguariensis) from the green forest in South
America. Argentina is the world’s leading producer
of yerba mate, and within Argentina, the plant is cultivated
in the provinces of Misiones and north-eastern.
The origins of yerba mate come from the Guaraní
natives, who used its leaves as a drink, cult, and currency
in their exchanges with other prehistoric cultures. For the
Guarani, the yerba mate tree is the tree par excellence, a gift
from the gods. Later the Jesuits introduced its cultivation in
large reductions. They were responsible for yerba mate was
known in the civilized world. The Yerba Mate in Argentina
is prepared and drunk in a pumpkin glass made of wood and
metal (Gourd cup) and a bombilla (Straw).
The preparation of mate is a simple process, consisting of
fi lling a container with yerba, pouring hot, but not boiling,
water over the leaves, and drinking with a straw, the bombilla,
which acts as a fi lter to draw only the liquid and not the yerba
leaves. The gourd is nearly fi lled with yerba, and hot water,
typically at 70 to 85 °C (158 to 185 °F).
Yerba mate is consumed by thousands of people in
diff erent countries around the world because of its nutritional
properties and variety in the ways of consumption.
In India, Karavan Advisory Enterprises LLP in association
with the Instituto Nacional de la Yerba Mate Tea (INYM)
have launched Argentine Yerba Mate Tea in India with an
agenda of opening its route to the Indian tea market by means
of popularizing the benefi ts and scientifi c signifi cance which
the Argentine Yerba Mate off ers. Distributors Sunshine Tea
based out of Delhi, and Chado Tea, based out of Mumbai
have started the importation of Yerba Mate in India and
redistributing Yerba Mate blends online and retail.
In India, we will be introducing Argentine Yerba Mate
along with Green Tea in ‘Tea Bags’ and ‘Loose Mate Tea’ with
popular Indian blends such as Ginger, Cardamom, Aniseeds,
Tulsi, Ginger, Honey, Lemongrass, Rose, Saff ron, Mango
and other spices catering to the Indian taste and provide the
customers with the amazing health (medicinal) benefi ts of
Argentine Yerba Mate.
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Medicinal and Health Benefi ts of Yerba Mate
Higher Antioxidants: The yerba mate infusions present
a great antioxidant power due to its high concentration of
polyphenols, and it is ranked in a very privileged position
among natural elements carrying the highest antioxidant
power.
Helps to Lower Bad Cholesterol levels: The results
of a scientifi c study by a team of researchers confi rm that
consumption of yerba mate helps to reduce bad cholesterol
(LDL) and triglycerides and improvement of plasma lipid
profi le.
Anti- Obesity and Anti-Diabetic properties: Yerba
Mate has therapeutic properties to reduce the risk of type
2 diabetes through weight management. Consumption of
Mate reduces the fi nal body weight, glucose blood levels,
and insulin resistance.
Cancer Prevention: Yerba Mate is considered as a
potential both pro-health and anti-tumor factor in human
colon. The free radical properties of Yerba mate extract on
human normal colonic epithelial and human colon carcinoma
cells.
Anti-infl ammatory properties: Yerba mate (YM) has
been shown to have anti-infl ammatory properties. It exerts
anti-infl ammatory action and important immunomodulatory
and anti-infl ammatory profi le.
Source of Vitamins: Yerba mate contains B-group
vitamins. The body needs 13 vitamins, and 8 of them are
B-group vitamins, which are essential for body functions
such as energy and red blood cells production.
Source of Minerals: Yerba mate contains minerals
(aluminum, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel,
potassium and zinc among others), an essential mineral that
is necessary for the correct function of the heart, and helps
the body to incorporate proteins.
* The author is Managing Director, Karavan Advisory
Enterprises LLP (Karavan)