The best varieties of mate

Making mate: how to distinguish a fake

Mate is prized precisely because of its unique effects on the body. Such a combination of vitamins and useful components, as in Paraguayan tea, is not found in any other product. However, only a high-quality mate has all these wonderful characteristics. And when buying, it is important not only to know the area where he grew up, but also the way of processing it: Mate is very capricious and sometimes just one mistake can nullify all his advantages.

Where the world's best mate grows

The Paraguayan holly - the one from which the cherished mate leaves are harvested - grows throughout South America. But connoisseurs of Paraguayan tea are well aware that it is in Argentina that the best plantations can be found. First, the country's fertile lands play a huge role. Secondly, the growing of mate is given the closest attention from the government: money is allocated for technology and research in this area.

In Argentina, mate has long been declared a “gold product”. However, this does not guarantee the purchase of a truly high-quality product. The fact is that there are many different companies in the country, and not all of them attach importance to quality, preferring to earn more and faster.

Aged - not seasoned: what's the difference?

Argentina often exports unfinished (or simply unfinished) mate to neighboring countries, where it is already packaged and sold to end consumers. These importing countries include:

• Brazil;
• Paraguay;
• Uruguay and others.

Unripened mate is light in weight and has low health benefits. A 250 g pack may look like a half-kilogram, and the tea itself will give a very weak and light infusion.

How it is made: mate leaves are only slightly dried in special ovens, evaporating excess water from them. The shrinkage is about 20%. This tea requires further processing.

The required concentration of vitamins and microelements occurs only after additional heat treatment (“maté aging”). In other words, after the primary and secondary shrinkage, the leaves should lie for 9 to 24 months in special ventilated rooms in which the specified temperature is maintained. This is the only way to accumulate energy potential in the mat.

Packing - the date is extremely important!

It is important to find Paraguayan tea packaged in the producing country. This is the only way you can find out the true date of its manufacture and packaging. When buying tea “on the spot”, you run the risk of getting over-exposed or spoiled tea. By the way, pay attention: in a good product there should be no third-party additives - they only reduce the effect of mate.

And yet there can be no reliable guarantee: you will have to rely on the good faith and reputation of the seller, so buy Paraguayan tea only at trusted retail outlets. If you buy branded products, ask the seller to show you what is inside the package so you can evaluate the quality of the raw materials.

How to tell a good aged tea

It is quite simple to distinguish aged mate from unseasoned:

1. Weight. Aged tea will weigh much more than unfinished tea. A large package with a low weight is a sign that you have not fully matured tea in your hands.
2. Color and aroma. Un aged Paraguayan tea will have a slightly green color and a very faint aroma.Aged mate will have a rich smoky aroma that takes you to the vast expanses of South America.
3. The color of the infusion. A high-quality mate gives a rich infusion that can easily withstand 4-5 infusions.

Various flavors should be a wake-up call for you. Most likely, they were not added to obtain some unique taste, but simply to drown out an unpleasant smell. Mate leaves are extremely hygroscopic and can absorb odors if not properly transported.

Important: the same rules apply for mate as for ordinary tea: the raw materials should not be too small and contain foreign impurities. Also, when weighed it out, the tea should not "dust". A large amount of garbage indicates a poor quality product.

By the way, the presence of filler does not mean that everything is hopeless. If you smell the scent of mate leaves, but do not feel anything superfluous at all, the choice was made correctly. Fillers can give a slight flavor when brewed, which can be beneficial to the tea itself.

A separate line should be noted the inscription "ORGANICA" on the packaging. It means that the product was harvested in an ecologically clean region, and when it was grown, no chemical fertilizers and pesticides were used.

Buy quality mate only from trusted sellers and you will get an excellent product!

Geographically, there are:

-Argentinian mate;

-Brazilian mate;

-Paraguay mate.

Considering the varieties of Argentine yerba mate, the following varieties are distinguished:

Con palo - Yerba Mate with stems. This mate is softer in taste due to the presence of stems. The stalks do not play a special role, the quality of the leaf and the method of drying it are important.

Sin palo - Yerba Mate without stems. This yerba mate has a strong, rich and fragrant taste that is most appreciated by mate lovers.

Organico - an expensive variety of Yerba Mate, when collecting and drying which only manual labor and aging are used for 24 months. The ORGANICO certificate, which guarantees the highest quality, is issued for each presented crop, indicating the total number of packages only after a thorough examination of the soil, leaf quality and nutrient content.

Seleccion Especial - seasoned Yerba mate. The harvesting process uses drying for 18 hours and aging for 24 months.

Tradicional - "classic" variety Yerba Mate, In the harvesting process, drying for 8 hours and aging for 12 months are used.

Barbaqua - Yerba Mate variety, which has a slight "smoke" smell due to the peculiarities of the processing of raw materials during procurement.

Suave - The “soft” variety Yerba Mate, actively promoted by industrial producers, has less bitterness.

Yerba Mate with additives - therba mate with the addition of various ingredients, which, in addition to changing the taste, can have an additional pharmacological effect: Yerba Mate is combined with the following ingredients:
- herbs (Highlander bird, Melissa, Mint);
- fruits (lime, lemon, orange, apple);
- berries (cherries, raspberries).

Mate tea is a very popular drink, which has become very popular. For many people, it symbolizes a peculiar lifestyle, and they cannot see themselves without bombilla and sausage.

Description

Paraguayan tea - "Mate" - prepared on the basis of crushed and dried leaves and young shoots of the Holly tree, common in South America. The finished drink in its properties is close to black tea: it tones up and invigorates, has a bitter and sweet taste at the same time. The color of the tea leaf can be green, golden and brown. The first two varieties are formed naturally, the raw material acquires a brown tint after special roasting.

In Europe the Spaniards were the first to enjoy "Mate". The useful properties of the drink were appreciated by the Jesuits and were able to enrich themselves on it.Subsequently, the tea was successfully sold throughout Europe under the name "Jesuit elixir".

Types and varieties

The most popular types of Mate tea are presented below:

• Barao premium - made from leaves grown in the shade of the forest. The finished tea has a rich, mild taste and long-lasting, strong energetic effect. The sheet is presented in a fine "Brazilian" grind.
• La Merced Barbacua - a variety that is considered classic. In addition to the leaf, there are small sticks of raw materials in it. The collected leaves during the production process undergo a smoking process (special roasting), which gives the finished drink the most intense taste and aroma.
• Roapipo - for this variety, only a hand-picked leaf is suitable. The drink is classified as a premium, 100% organic product. Ready-made "Mate" is distinguished by long-term, gentle impact.
• La Merced Campo & Monte - a mixture of raw materials produced in Misiones and Corientes. The drink has a long-lasting energetic effect, pleasant, rich taste.
• La merced monte Is an Argentinean classic. It is commonly called “yerba mate”. The leaf is grown in hilly areas in the province of Misiones. Tea has a medium strength, interesting, signature aroma.
• Pipore Roja - a type of tea that allows you to get a soft drink, optimally suitable for beginners or for daily use.
• Rosamonte especial - a variety of special selection, with sticks. The finished drink has a rich, strong aroma and taste.

Compound

The composition of Mate tea is presented in the table.

In 1930, scientists became interested in the drink. They wanted to figure out why Indians and shepherds so easily endure outdoor life. The research team came to the conclusion that Mate contains all the components necessary to maintain full functioning.

How to choose the right one

The choice of a quality drink should be subject to the following principles:

• The country of manufacture - Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay (indicated on the pack).
• The nicest mate - organic, exclusively handcrafted. The packaging has an Organico certificate.
• Shelf life - it is necessary to ensure that the drink is fresh.
• Package - the quality of paper, color, inscriptions speaks for itself. A good product contains a detailed annotation in the language of the importing country.
• Mate is a mixture of shoots and leaves. The more leaves are contained in dry raw materials, the softer the drink.
• Additives in the form of various flavors do not affect the quality of the product - this is a matter of taste.

Price and where to buy

You can buy high-quality "Mate" at:

• Specialized online stores.
• Tea salons.
• Lavkakh.
• Boutiques.

The cost of the drink varies from 600 to 1500 rubles. for 500 grams.

Benefits for the body. Contraindications and harm

A drink made from quality raw materials has the following beneficial effects:

• Saturation of the body with a complex of vitamins.
• Toning drink - cheerfulness lasts from 8 to 10 hours.
• Relief of pain and muscle tension.
• Pressure stabilization.
• Increased concentration of attention.
• Neutralization of the negative effects of alcohol.
• Removal of foreign substances from the body.
• The most powerful antioxidant - the fight against premature aging and diseases.
• Strengthening blood vessels.
• Reducing cholesterol levels.
• The basis of dietary nutrition aimed at weight loss.
• Elimination of depressive conditions, improvement of mood, emotional background.
• Sleep normalization.
• Antiseptic.
• Increases libido, the healing powers of other herbs.
• Not addictive.
• Normalizes the functions of the digestive system.

The drink is not recommended for use in the following cases:

• Kidney disease.
• Atherosclerosis.
• High acidity of gastric juice.

The taste of true "Mate" is revealed in a special dish. Porous calabash contains oxygen in the walls, which contributes to the full disclosure of the taste and aroma of the drink.

How to drink

Before using Mate, it is worth considering important features:

• Pregnant women, mothers during lactation, small children should refrain from drinking the drink.
• The drink is a good help for the prevention of vascular and heart damage. Blood under its action is better supplied with oxygen, potassium strengthens the muscles of the heart.
• Mate tea perfectly suppresses appetite, which is important for obesity.
• When consumed regularly, tea protects against overwork, fatigue, and nervous strain.

How to brew properly. Storage

It is customary to prepare the drink in various ways, which allows you to get completely different taste sensations.

Classic "Mate"

Cooking method:

• Grass is placed in calabas (2/3 of the volume).
• The vessel is shaken and tilted so that the tea leaves move to one wall.
• A small amount of warm water is poured into the kalabas, t 35-40 °.
• Wait until the liquid is absorbed.
• Hot water at 65-70 ° is poured into the vessel.
• A bomb is inserted into the deepest place of the container, hot water is added to the end.
• After two minutes, the drink is ready.

When brewing, it is not necessary to use calabas, the Paraguayans and Argentines themselves use metal and ceramic mugs, plastic cups, the main thing is that there is a bomb.

Cold "Mate"

Cooking method:

• The tea leaf can be brewed with cold grapefruit juice, specially prepared cold decoctions of herbs (mint, verbena).
• In the case of cold pouring, the drink should be infused for at least four minutes.
• For brewing, ordinary or special varieties of "Mate" (terere) are used.

Boiled mate

Cooking method:

• "Mate" is poured into a Turk 1/10 of its volume and slightly moistened with warm water.
• The mass is poured with boiling water and boiled over the slowest heat.
• When the foam rises, the Turk is removed from the fire, after a minute it is filtered through the net.
• You can add honey, sugar, lemon, orange zest to the drink and serve.

"Mate" in the French press

Cooking method:

• Grass is poured into the press in 1/10 of the volume.
• The tea is moistened with warm water.
• When the liquid is absorbed, "Mate" is filled with hot water to its full volume and infused for two minutes.
• The drink is squeezed out and ready to drink.

Tea should always be stored in a sealed container, away from pungent foods, spices and seasonings. The ideal is a ceramic container that will not allow the tea to absorb moisture and retain its natural aroma.

It is believed that bitter "Mate" is a drink of true men, guacho. It is also good for single people as it is thought-provoking. The drink, flavored with sugar, is usually drunk by women and older children.

Reviews

Mate tea has earned the following reviews among users:

• Mate is an excellent tonic drink. I always drink it in the morning and recharge myself for the whole day. I always take tea in bulk, I think that there is simply no natural tea in bags.
• I drink this tea when I am on a diet. It helps to quickly digest food and breaks down fats. I advise you not to drink this drink before bed and more than three cups a day, otherwise your heart will jump out.

Mate is a unique drink with an unusual taste and many useful properties. Brewing tea in Calabas, you can immerse yourself in the culture of Latin America.

All about tea "Mate". How to choose, how to store, how to brew, how to drink:

Lovers of long tea drinking will surely appreciate the drink, which surpasses even so healthy green tea in its taste and effect on the body. The very name of this healing drink creates a feeling of softness and pleasant taste. Mate tea is a processed product of the evergreen Paraguayan holly plant. What properties of this mysterious drink awaken love for it among true tea connoisseurs?

Since ancient times, mate tea was consumed by the Indians living in Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina, where this medicinal plant grew. Today, its export is developed in all countries of the world, so everyone can try mate. The main thing is to know which variety to choose, as well as how to brew such tea correctly.

Mate varieties: are you stronger or sweeter?

Different varieties are obtained from the same shrub through different combinations of ingredients and aging rates. So, for the production of mate leaves (the main component of tea), stems and dust are used. As a rule, 60-65% of the raw material falls on the leaves and 30-35% on the stems, the remaining small part is the so-called dust.

Classic mate is aged from 1.5 to 2 years. Its taste is bright, with a slight astringency and characteristic sourness, and its color is golden. A more delicate drink is obtained when the aging period is reduced to 9 months. It is also called green mate. There is also a very tart, slightly bitter mate, in which the stems are almost not used (no more than 10%). It has a strong effect on the body and tones up perfectly.

The variety of varieties of the drink is expanding thanks to the addition of aromatic herbs such as sage, peppermint and mint, lemon balm, citrus flowers. This tea is wonderful in itself, without any treats to it. Mate tea with fruit pieces will help to cheer up and get a charge of positive energy. It has a slight natural sweetness.

For an unusual drink - special dishes

Having chosen the type of mate to taste, you need to brew it correctly. It is prepared and drunk from a special vessel - kalabas.Previously, it was made from pumpkin, but now there are wooden, porcelain and even metal containers on sale.

Warm water is poured first by 1/3, and then gradually poured until the vessel is completely filled. This allows the taste to unfold more fully. Tea should be drunk from a special filter tube called bombilla. It also comes in metal and wood (which is preferable).

Healing drink native to South America

Before you go in search of mate tea, it makes sense to familiarize yourself with its beneficial properties. In addition to the fact that it contains large amounts of antioxidants, it is also rich in various vitamins and minerals. Among them are: carotene, riboflavin, B vitamins, as well as potassium, magnesium, sodium and pantothenic acid.

This is what it is - vitamin mate tea. The properties of this drink also have a positive effect on the functioning of the digestive system, activating metabolism, improving the state of the nervous system, relaxing and creating a feeling of light trance. Mate tea perfectly tones and normalizes sleep, but it is not recommended to drink it at night - there is a high probability of not falling asleep. But in the morning it will be an excellent assistant for a quick awakening. Drinking mate tea, you will feel more invigorated, but at the same time your perseverance and attentiveness will increase.

Mate also helps the respiratory system by providing more oxygen to tissues and organs. Several studies have even found its effect on reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. So drinking mate tea is not only pleasant, but also extremely healthy.

You can, but be careful. About contraindications

Like a decoction of any plant with medicinal properties, mate tea has contraindications. With caution and in small quantities, it should be drunk by people with high acidity of the stomach, as well as in the presence of kidney disease. You can not overdo it with this drink and pregnant women.

Drink mate tea, recharge with its energy and nutrients, but remember the measure!