Yebra mate belongs to the family Aquifoliaceae. It belongs to division Anthophyta, Class Magnoliopsida, Subclass Rosidae and Order Celastrales. The scientific name Ilex paraguarensis was given by French botanist and naturalist named Auguste de Saint Hilaire in 1822. It is popularly known as Mate. The word Mate is derived from the quichua word mati which means the gourd, a traditional drink.
The Yebra Mate is commonly found in Argentina, some part of Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay. The plant was first cultivated by Gauranis. The plant is useful in many ways. The main function includes the stimulation of the brain as it contains xanthines, which are alkaloids coming from the same family as caffeine, theobromine and theophylline.
Mate products are often labeled as "caffeine-free" alternatives to tea and coffee with fewer side effects. However, the researchers at Florida International University in Miami have found some caffeine content in the plant but not at levels found in coffee. The taste of Mate is somewhat bitter, sweet, withered leaf like and alfalfa-like.
Effects on Parts of the Body
It is proven in many ways that Mate affects muscle tissues. It has relaxing effects on smooth muscle tissues. Yerba Mate also has stimulating effect on heart tissue known as myocardial tissues. The uniqueness of the Mate is it can be shared among several people and yet can produce the desired stimulating effects equally to all. This could be due to its highly-soluble xanthines.
The plant is often used as a natural immunity booster, and it is well known for its detoxification properties. It soothes the nervous system and hence reduces the effects of stress.
Yebra Mate combats fatigue, restores your hair colors and also reduces the effects of debilitating diseases. Many people use this wonderful plant as rejuvenating agent. In advanced age it also works as very mild sedative and hence curing age-related insomnia. The regular usage of Mate helps increasing appetite in conditions like anorexia.
Usage
This is tea and hence can be used just like any other ordinary tea. It comes in bags of loose-leaf tea which is dried and ground. Some of the manufactures produce Yebra Mate as tea bags known as Mate Cocido but these may not provide the desired effect due to its alteration while manufacturing. The traditional way of using Mate tea is to brew it like any other ordinary loose-leaf tea and then filter the tea leaves just before pouring into your tea-cup. Many people use it in coffeemakers by putting them into the machine where the herb is infused with hot water and pressed out of the way. On a sunny day, it can be made into flavored iced tea.
The Cup of Friendship
The traditional use of Mate tea is when it is shared among close friends and among families using the same bombilla or straw. Sharing Mate tea develops some kind of bond of friendship and healthiness among each other. Even today, in Brazil and Argentina many people especially farmers make the Mate cup around the camp fire to enhance their bonds of companionships. In some city like Buenos Aires it is quite common to find lovers, friends and family members sharing Mate cup with each other.
