Mate. If this name means something to you, it may be that you heard about it recently during Euro 2016, because footballer Antoine Griezmann is very fond of it. Yerba mate (the full name) is a plant native to South America whose leaves are infused to make a drink often compared to coffee. The reason ? It is rich in caffeine, slightly less than coffee (but more than tea) and also has real health benefits, provided you drink it in moderation.
For hundreds of years, yerba mate has been used as a medicine and tonic by the indigenous peoples of Brazil and Paraguay. It is extremely rich in antioxidants (about 90% more than green tea!), but also in vitamins (A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B5) and minerals (calcium, manganese, iron, selenium, potassium , zinc, phosphorus). Not bad is not it ? The caffeine it contains makes it an excellent stimulant of the nervous system, which helps to strengthen attention and even memorization. It is also known to reduce stress and improve digestion. Finally, it can be used as an appetite suppressant (thanks to caffeine) as part of a diet aimed at losing weight and a study has shown that it helps to increase the body's energy expenditure. Be careful, however, not to exceed one or two cups a day. Several studies have in fact established a link between excessive consumption of mate and an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer (of the mouth, esophagus and lungs). It is also not recommended to smoke in combination with the consumption of mate. Finally, due to its caffeine content, mate is not recommended for people with high blood pressure or heart disease and can promote insomnia and nervousness.
Traditionally, mate is drunk in a calabash in which the leaves are placed, then covered with cold water (this allows you to "soak" the mate) before adding simmering water (especially not boiling). The mixture is drunk using a kind of steel straw, called a bombilla. Mate also comes in the form of infusettes, like tea bags, or in powder form, which allows you to taste before investing in the pro gear...
