Mate tea: health benefits and harms

An interesting fact: almost 5000 years have passed since the discovery of tea by mankind. During this time, at least 14 billion cups were drunk! You just need to think about these numbers, and after all, Russia takes an honorable 4th place among countries of tea lovers. However, with all the variety of colors and tastes, only green, black and red remain popular. In the world there are other species worthy of recognition. This article will introduce you to the mate tea that Japan is so fond of attributing.

Tea History

There is no exact date for the opening of the drink, so it is generally accepted that this happened in 1533, during the Spanish colonization of America. However, historians come to the conclusion that the mate drank long before the Middle Ages, and for the Indians it was the same as “five o’clock tea” for the British.

According to one version, the etymology of the word "mate" goes back to the ancient Quechua language, in which the so-called "jug". This is a logical connection, because the drink can not be called just tea. Before taming the thirst, you have to sweat pretty: find “calabash” (a special container) and “bomb” (something similar to a straw).

And the Spaniards, who consider themselves the discoverers, translated the word "mate" as a potion and also turned out to be right. The tincture of Paraguayan holly is extremely strong and may well replace coffee.

There are more romantic versions regarding the creation of mate. As in many cultures, the native people of America had their deities and gifts. Some of those gave people a real life-giving elixir.

One day, two sister goddesses decided to go down from heaven to the mortals and see the world they created with their own eyes. On their way there were many wild animals, but all were afraid of them, except for the jaguar, which lurked in the thickets. If it were not for the brave Indian of the Guarani tribe who miraculously found himself nearby, the immortality of the girls would be tested in practice. The young man saved the goddesses, and in gratitude, they revealed to him the secret of the drink, which gives strength, so that with age, his courage and strength do not decrease.

The second legend tells the story of an old man and his daughter, who possessed unprecedented beauty both externally and internally. They were nomads and lived where necessary. The age of the man made itself felt, soon he could no longer conquer mountains and rivers, so the family was forced to remain in the wilderness. The young beauty worked hard, but away from the settlements the work was overwhelming. Once a sorcerer wandered over to them, whom the girl warmly received for the night. Hearing the story of the poor wanderers, the man took pity and taught the old man how to make tinctures. When he tasted the drink, his bones got stronger, and the family could travel again.

According to another version, the meeting with the sorcerer ended in failure. Instead of a kind heart, a void appeared in the magician’s chest, how can one explain his deed? The man was so fascinated by the beauty that he did not want to share with all the white light and turned her into a tree. However, the bright soul was reborn and since then has been helping people, as it once was in life.

Not only the Indians believed in magic. The Spaniards were no less superstitious and in the 16th century even banned mate, calling it the drink of the devil. But this only aggravated the situation, and the mystical fame played as anti-advertising. After all, even the main guardians of purity - priests - drank tea.

Why is mate still attributed to Japan or China? History has an answer to this question. Of course, Chinese and Japanese civilizations existed before our era, so the number of shrubs and grasses saved by the emperors simply can’t be counted, but the answer is not at all there.

In 1492, the era of great geographical discoveries was marked when Christopher Columbus set off in search of the New World. Swimming in the vicinity of future South America, he thought it was Asia. Since that time, a lot of water has flowed, however, like various plants to Europe. Due to a stupid mistake, the culture of the Indians continues to be attributed to the distant Land of the rising sun.

What are they made of

Mate is made from the leaves and stems of the Paraguayan holly. For a long time this tree did not take root on other continents, but now breeders have learned to plant whole plantations.

Tea production does not require complex processes. Thousands of leaves are showered from the branches every year (the natural method of collection gives the highest quality drink). Sometimes the stems are simply cut. But the use of collection machines crashed when the delicate shoots from rough exposure weakened and could not give a rich taste. After that, the mixture is ground and dried under the scorching sun, which is abundant in America, as well as in electric dryers. The guarantee of a good mate is the dust left after drying. When buying, it is worth paying attention to!

And lovers of ancient traditions will have to wait at least 2 years until the mate for their calabash passes the stage of fermentation (getting rid of bitterness) and is saturated with the smell of other herbs.

Composition and calorie content

The question arises: how did the Indians like the drink? The main value lies in the “life-giving” components, and these are:

• matein;
• caffeine;
• protein;
• resin;
• wax.

Here is such an unusual composition in tea. Calorie content per 100 g is 61 calories, which is incomparable with packaged dust, in which there are only 3 calories per cup.

At the same time, the leaves contain a whole encyclopedia of vitamins and minerals, for example, manganese and iron for the circulatory system and blood vessels, phosphorus and potassium, which affect mental abilities and general well-being, as well as calcium, copper, sodium, nitrogen.

Matein or caffeine
Before torturing a search engine with queries, it’s worth hearing once and don’t ask again. The term "matein" is used only in relation to this tea, as evidenced by the root of the same name "mate". In a debate about the existence of this word, science was divided into two camps. Some believe that the strength of the drink and the invigorating properties are so much higher than the norm of Americano and espresso that they go beyond caffeine. In evidence of this lead to a special technology for the collection and preparation.

It turns out that if you violate at least one of the stages, a delicious mate will turn into a bitter killer, from which heart failure can occur.

The opposing side, on the other hand, relies on chemistry and rightly argues that the formula of mattein is identical to caffeine, and the addition of a new term will only confuse people. In some ways, they are still right!

Deciding who to root for is a purely personal matter, and the main lesson is that getting involved in a homemade drink can be dangerous to your health.

Useful properties of mate tea

General benefit

According to the Chinese emperor Shen Nong: “Tea is a marvel, because it calms and invigorates at the same time!”

Mate tea, like its counterparts, helps relieve tension and at least briefly calm the nervous system. A drink rich in phosphorus and copper stimulates mental activity, memory, attention and is prescribed to all creative people, as well as adolescents, before exams. In addition, it is scientifically proven that even the famous green tea is inferior to it in usefulness.

After a shock training, the mate will relieve spasms and lactic acid in the muscles, giving a supply of energy until the end of the day. Often tea is used in medicine, for example, from medieval Spain, records have been received about the successful treatment of scurvy with fever.

The smell of leaves drives away anxiety in people with depression, panic attacks and some stages of bipolar disorder. Those suffering from restless sleep or its absence at all should also take a closer look at these herbs. A daily mug at night will provide a truly good morning, but it is better to set two alarms.

Those who quit smoking or drinking should be aware of the beneficial properties of this drink.After all, mate is actively fighting bad habits no worse than nicotine patches and other expensive drugs, and replacing alcohol with tea will only benefit the body. A sick heart will say “thank you” for this folk remedy. Mate strengthens the walls of blood vessels and accelerates blood circulation. A large amount of iron in tea will not be superfluous with anemia.

If diabetics are bored with chicory or green tea, mate will be a great alternative, because it does not affect blood sugar at all.

Hot drinks are generally recommended for use in the cold season, but the mate will protect the immune system better, since whole pieces of stems contain chlorophyll. This is the case when you are not afraid to spend money!

For women

A notorious characteristic of tea is a diuretic effect. In the fight against the problems of the reproductive system and ureters - this is an indispensable assistant.

With cystitis, it is important to drink more fluid, but if you replace the water with hot tincture, the disease will go away twice as fast! This is affected by a large amount of sodium, which kills bacteria, and vitamins of groups A, B, D, restoring microflora. Mate is an acidic medium (composed of butyric, nicotinic, valerianic acids), in which even the most resistant parasites die.

Of course, the benefits of the drink also apply to the kidneys with the gall bladder. Doctors strongly recommend that their patients drink a whole course to remove stones and excess protein.

More than 20% of the female population suffers from painful menstruation, and here tea can help and act as a natural analgesic. The main thing is not to overdo it with the strength and frequency of drinking.

And in pursuit of the modern world for eternal youth, an Indian drink may well be considered a philosophical stone that removes toxins from the body and prevents skin aging. As you know, more moisture - less wrinkles.

For men

The Indians, and then the Spaniards knew exactly how to improve potency.

Matein is an energetic, but it does not affect the nervous system as aggressively as caffeine, and the effect of vigor lasts no more than three hours. During this time, the natural production of adrenaline occurs, and as a result, testosterone, which is important for men's health.

The presence of protein in the composition, as it were, hints at the gym, where the excess protein is useful to the muscles, as well as the bed, where you have to sweat. However, a longer erection will be noticeable after 3 cups (but not a day!) Due to good blood circulation in the pelvic area.

During pregnancy

Pregnancy is a process that takes place in completely different ways for every woman. Therefore, it is difficult to say with accuracy how the body will react. You should focus on the absence or presence of allergies or intolerance to the components, as well as well-being after coffee.

Pregnant mate is not prohibited, but you should add it to your diet with caution. If you really want, it is better to drink it not too saturated. During the threat of a miscarriage (1–5 and 37–40 weeks), it is better to abstain from use, as it stimulates smooth muscles and emotional arousal, as a result of which there are premature births.

In South America, mates are drunk at least 5 times a day, but expectant mothers are forbidden to use it for the entire duration! There the drink is very strong, because the Paraguayans do not understand bullying with the addition of water.

When breastfeeding

Tea is considered exotic for the local area and can be harmful even for men, so what about lactation?

Matein adversely affects the infant’s fragile nervous system, and theophyllines and other alkaloids cause an acute allergic reaction.

Advice! For example, green tea increases the amount of breast milk, but mate is able to reduce it on the contrary, so it is preferable to use it during the transfer of the baby to normal food.

Mate - identical to coffee or concentrated black tea. These are products that are strictly prohibited during breastfeeding, so he is.

Studies conducted after 2012 show that the harmful effects of mate on the child are weakened after reaching 6 months.

For kids

Argentinean babies acquire calabash as early as 1.5 years old and feel great! It may be due to climate or genetics, but Russian pediatricians forbid mating to children, since the tianin present in the drink can provoke a lack of calcium, and in advanced forms it can cause rickets and skeleton damage.

In addition, caffeine adversely affects sleep and heart. But tea advocates argue that mate with milk and honey, on the contrary, fights insomnia and normalizes biorhythms. The best age to start tasting exotics is 10 years.

When losing weight

Wanting to lose hated kilograms, girls turn to mate, and they do it right! A hot drink leaves you feeling full for a long time and improves metabolism.

Digestion works like a clock, and overeating goes away. And with a surge of vigor, approaches on the track in the gym become 2 times more effective. For good weight loss, you should drink 3 cups a day at intervals of at least 5 hours.

With the help of tea, you can shift the food schedule, if suddenly there is no time for breakfast (main meal).

In 2001, studies were conducted on the dependence of weight on the use of mate. The results pleasantly surprised Danish scientists: macronutrients and acids in the leaves irritate the intestines, speeding up the process of digesting food.

Harm and contraindications

Who will have to abandon the miraculous leaves of tea?

1. Frequent use of tea can lead to short-term amnesia, disorientation in space and hallucinations in especially neglected forms.
2. People with hypertension and heart defects should refrain from a strong mate in order to avoid angina pectoris, high blood pressure, nosebleeds.
3. As already mentioned, the mate perfectly absorbs alcohol, but vomiting and dizziness with the effect of “after coding” can begin with a hangover.
4. The presence of acids in the composition makes tea forbidden for ulcers.

But the main danger lies even at the stage of preparation. Mate masters pay special attention to the temperature of the water. It should be between 65 and 80 degrees. If the value of the mercury column reaches 100 degrees, tea can cause the formation of malignant tumors. The fact is that when heated, the components of the plant become dangerous carcinogens. Among mate lovers there are many who suffer from cancer of the stomach, esophagus and bladder.

In addition, the drink is addictive, and somewhere on 5 cups a day there is a trait that you can stop by going over.

How to choose and store

1. Manufacturers from Argentina or Paraguay should give preference (it is better, of course, to go and try on the spot).
2. The dry mixture should not be homogeneous; in high-quality products, pieces of leaves and stems 1-2 cm long are visible.
3. Colors range from dark shades of brown to light (like milk chocolate). Among the gulls should not be red and yellow blotches.
4. The smell of mate is specific, completely different from tea bags. Its aroma resembles hay or dried grass, but does not cause disgust.
5. Volume. Base and slightly concentrated mate is sold in large packages, but 200 g appears on the label.
6. Transparency. Natural tea can withstand 4–5 tea leaves before completely losing its taste.
7. Small particles remaining on the fingers are a sign of properly dried leaves.

Storage rules are very simple: a dry, dark place, in a box with good sealing and away from children.

How to brew and drink mate tea

In the tea ceremony, there are many secrets that you should learn to feel the process of drinking fully.

1. Before cooking, calabash and bombilla are disinfected by scalding. At the bottom lay 2/3 of the mixture. Professionals pre-fill herbs with cold water. When the tea leaves are saturated with moisture, they are poured with boiling water.
2. Mate needs to brew several times! Argentines believe that the true drink of the gods is obtained after 4 use. And at home, it is preferable to focus on the appearance of foam.
3. Festive mate is made using milk and a small piece of charcoal in sugar for flavor. In hot weather, boiling water is diluted with water and freshened with lemon slices.

These are the basic rules that everyone should follow in order not to spoil their health:

• Mate should not be drunk on an empty stomach;
• it should not be consumed before bedtime;
• you can not drink tea from an ordinary mug, only from calabash;
• drinking is permitted only through the bombilla in small sips;
• It is forbidden to use more than 3 times a day.

Attributes of Traditional Materia

Calabash is a special vessel for liquids produced by the Indians from the pumpkin (fruit) of the gourd's tree. Now calabash is sold from various types of wood and is often decorated with precious metals and stones. Divine water, after all!

Advice! When choosing your calabash, focus on the size. The most convenient will be the one that holds tightly in the palm of your hand and does not slip out.

Bombilla - a wooden or metal curved tube with a filter on the end. It is also adorned with stones, paintings, unique bends.

Strong mate drink early in the morning. In America, they even get up 3 hours earlier in order to hastily make good tea and enjoy its taste. In the evening, the concentration is reduced and a sweetener for deep sleep is added.

Why mate tea is drunk through the bombing

Drinking tea through a tube is important to preserve enamel. The concentration of chemical elements is so high that the teeth do not stand up and crumble. Therefore, they drink mate for a long time, in small sips, and after quenching their thirst, rinse their mouth thoroughly.

Interesting facts about tea mate

1. Argentine shepherds drank mate while walking, so as not to start counting sheep in a dream and not freeze. By the way, this is one of the reasons to drink tea through a straw: lips in the mountains are frozen.
2. Mate is at least 2 millennia older than green tea!
3. Mate is a drink of friendship that must be shared with at least 10 people.
4. If friends left, and the mood is bad, then mate drink alone. The Indians believed that at this moment a person shares calabash with his own soul.
5. Che Guevara adored mate and drank it every day.
6. The first calabash was made from human skulls.

Mate tea photo