Is Yerba Mate a Tea? Paraguayan Tea Under the Microscope
2022-07-25
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Yerba mate tea — that’s how most people describe this infusion when they encounter it for the first time. We hear it every day in conversations at the shop: “I’ll have that Paraguayan tea.” And although a botanist would clutch their head in despair, the term does have its own logic: dried leaves, pouring water over them, a moment of calm with a cup. In this article, we settle once and for all how yerba mate differs from tea — from the plant itself, through caffeine and brewing method, to the ritual of drinking — and we suggest where to start if you want to switch from a teacup to a matero.
WHY DO PEOPLE CALL YERBA MATE TEA?
As for the origin of the mistaken naming of the yerba mate infusion, it is probably due to the significant popularity advantage of tea in our country. The similarity of brewing the infusion is actually one of the few things they have in common. A difference between yerba mate infusion and tea is certainly that the infusion made from Paraguayan holly has significantly more health-promoting properties, and is also decidedly more stimulating than traditional tea. The taste of both beverages is also completely different, yerba mate is more herbal in taste than traditional tea.
Fortunately, yerba mate is becoming increasingly popular in our country, and more and more people are learning about the properties that come from the goodness of dried leaves of Paraguayan holly.
Source: EU EFSA health claims No. 2071, 3923, scientific publications
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https://yerbador.com/dzialanie-przeciw-otylosci-yerba-mate/
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https://yerbador.com/zwiazki-fenolowe-obecne-w-yerba-mate/
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https://yerbador.com/fenolowe-przeciwutleniacze-zidentyfikowane-za-pomoca-esi-ms/
You can very often come across the term Paraguayan tea. But is this a good term for yerba? Certainly tea and mate share some common features, for example dried leaves and the way they are prepared, and both are also associated with relaxation, aroma and pleasant taste.
Tea is an infusion made from the buds and leaves of plants known by the same name, which belong to the camellia genus – both plants are very similar to each other.
Camellia is a plant genus of Asian origin, which of course is quite far from South America.
So does this mean that calling yerba mate “Paraguayan tea” is a mistake? Of course, it isn’t a mistake – yerba mate and tea are very similar to each other, which is immediately noticeable. The most important thing is to pass on the most accurate information about this wonderful beverage that is yerba mate and the benefits that come from drinking it. Even if some people call it tea!
So although both beverages are similar to each other, calling yerba mate “tea” is sometimes considered a kind of inaccuracy. Traditional teas come from completely different corners of the world than the Paraguayan holly, from which yerba mate is made. Both beverages also come from entirely different cultures and served completely different purposes. Quite a paradox when it comes to naming is that we could just as well call any other drink, e.g. one made from fruit, “fruit tea”. Many Paraguayans might get a little annoyed if someone called their infusion “tea” 🙂 So let’s stick with the proper name, which is yerba mate.
Source: EU EFSA health claims No. 2058, 2275, 2276, 3397, 2070, 3940, 2071, 2834, 2835, 3923, scientific publications
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https://yerbador.com/jaka-jest-rola-zwiazkow-fenolowych-yerba-mate/
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https://yerbador.com/dzialanie-przeciw-otylosci-yerba-mate/
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https://yerbador.com/spozywanie-yerba-mate-ilex-paraguariensis/
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https://yerbador.com/antybakteryjne-dzialanie-yerba-mate/
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https://yerbador.com/zwiazki-fenolowe-obecne-w-yerba-mate/
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https://yerbador.com/ekspansja-rynku-produktow-zawierajacych-kofeine/
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https://yerbador.com/fenolowe-przeciwutleniacze-zidentyfikowane-za-pomoca-esi-ms/
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https://yerbador.com/kompleksowy-przeglad-chemii-implikacji-zdrowotnych/
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DEFINITIONS OF THE BEVERAGES AND THEIR MEANING
Tea – this is an infusion made from the leaves and buds of plants belonging to the same family.
Yerba mate – this is an infusion made from the dried leaves of Paraguayan holly.
A similarity in this case is also that both infusions are brewed from dried leaves. There are many flavors and varieties of tea, and this is exactly what sets it apart from the yerba mate infusion, which is definitely one of a kind.
Source: EU EFSA health claims No. 2071, 3923, scientific publications
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https://yerbador.com/dzialanie-przeciw-otylosci-yerba-mate/
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https://yerbador.com/spozywanie-yerba-mate-ilex-paraguariensis/
WHERE DID THE NAME “PARAGUAYAN TEA” COME FROM?
As most of us know well, dried yerba mate leaves are otherwise known as Paraguayan holly. Unlike tea, it is grown in Brazil, Argentina or Paraguay – hence the name. Yerba mate began gaining popularity in Poland when people started taking more interest in healthy food and a healthy lifestyle. Without a doubt, our Yerbador infusion can be counted among both of these categories. But going back to the topic – was yerba mate rightly dubbed “tea”? In Poland, many people tend to claim that anything that isn’t coffee but can be brewed should be called tea, but it’s worth remembering that yerba mate is nothing other than an herb. Tea and yerba mate, as we wrote above, come from two completely different corners of the world. Therefore, the claim that yerba mate is a tea isn’t entirely accurate. This inaccuracy probably arose as a result of the enormous popularity and prevalence of tea in our country.
It’s worth noting that the flavours of both infusions are completely different, which is evidenced by the fact that yerba mate has its own dedicated vessel and drinking straw. You can read more about the bombilla (straw), yerba mate vessels, as well as brewing instructions and tips, on our website in the blog section.
Source: EU EFSA health claims No. 2071, 3923, scientific publications
PROPERTIES OF YERBA MATE
Regarding its properties, let us quote fragments from another article on our blog:
Yerba mate infusion contains a very high amount of polyphenols, but also stimulating caffeine and theobromine, thanks to which it can support concentration and memory. Many clinical studies confirm the anti-cancer effect of yerba mate.
Many women who take great care of their skin condition also choose this infusion, as regularly drinking yerba leads to increased collagen production in our body, which slows down the skin ageing process. Moreover, many studies have proven that yerba mate lowers cholesterol and supports weight loss, and can additionally help people who have problems with their bladder or digestion – and these are just a few of the many health-promoting properties of yerba mate.
In the further part of the quoted article, we also included a statement by the well-known clinical dietitian Dr Hanna Stolińska; we encourage you to read the full article – yerbador.com
Source: EU EFSA health claims No. 2058, 2275, 2276, 3397, 2070, 3940, 2071, 2834, 2835, 3923, scientific publications
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https://yerbador.com/jaka-jest-rola-zwiazkow-fenolowych-yerba-mate/
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https://yerbador.com/dzialanie-przeciw-otylosci-yerba-mate/
-
https://yerbador.com/spozywanie-yerba-mate-ilex-paraguariensis/
-
https://yerbador.com/antybakteryjne-dzialanie-yerba-mate/
-
https://yerbador.com/zwiazki-fenolowe-obecne-w-yerba-mate/
-
https://yerbador.com/ekspansja-rynku-produktow-zawierajacych-kofeine/
-
https://yerbador.com/fenolowe-przeciwutleniacze-zidentyfikowane-za-pomoca-esi-ms/
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https://yerbador.com/kompleksowy-przeglad-chemii-implikacji-zdrowotnych/
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HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST YERBA MATE INFUSION?
If this drink has caught your interest, our yerba mate is a great choice for those looking for a solid dose of energy combined with aromatic flavour and scent, containing a very high dose of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Also remember that top-class yerba mate should be organic.
Our Yerbador product contains 100% leaves, with no stems, and holds all certificates confirming its organic status, so we’re not afraid to say it’s ideal and of the highest quality. For more information, visit our blog on the website yerbador.com.
Summary
To sum up, one of the main differences between tea and yerba mate is that they come from two completely different corners of the world; moreover, a key difference is that yerba mate has far more health-promoting properties than any tea.
Let’s hope that in the near future yerba mate will become more popular, so that people stop confusing them with one another and instead discover the amazing properties and potential of the infusion made from the Paraguayan holly.
That’s why we encourage you to buy Yerbador yerba mate.
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Botany: two completely different plants
Let’s start from the roots, quite literally. Tea — black, green, white, oolong — is always the leaves of a single plant: the Chinese camellia (Camellia sinensis), a shrub from the tea family cultivated for thousands of years in Asia. Yerba mate is made from the leaves of the Paraguayan holly (Ilex paraguariensis) — a tree from the holly family, growing in South America: in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Our dried leaves come from Brazil, and you can read more about the plant itself in our article on air-drying vs smoke-drying yerba mate.
These two plants are separated by half the globe and millions of years of evolution. All they have in common is that both give leaves which humans learned to dry and steep in water. It’s a bit like calling coffee “grainy tea” — understandable, but not exactly precise.
Caffeine or theine? It’s the same molecule
Here’s a fun fact that surprises even long-time tea drinkers: theine and caffeine are chemically exactly the same compound. Different names stuck historically because it was isolated separately from coffee and separately from tea, before anyone noticed it was one and the same thing. In yerba, for years people talked about “mateine” — and again, it’s the same molecule.
The difference lies in quantity and company. A cup of black tea provides about 40–60 mg of caffeine, green tea — 30–50 mg. A traditionally brewed serving of yerba mate is 60–120 mg, and the dried leaves can be steeped multiple times, so the stimulation is spread out over a longer time. For comparison, a cup of coffee has 90–150 mg. You’ll find the full breakdown of numbers in our article how much caffeine do coffee, tea, yerba mate and energy drinks have.
In practice, this means yerba stimulates more strongly than tea, but more gently than coffee — without a sharp spike and crash.
Brewing: boiling water versus 70–80 degrees
Most of us pour boiling water over black tea and remove the bag after three minutes. With yerba, this habit ends in disappointment — boiling water pulls out the harsh bitterness of the holly leaves and can put you off right from the start. Yerba should be brewed with water at 70–80°C, meaning water that has cooled for 3–4 minutes after boiling.
Second difference: the amount of dried leaves. For tea, we add a teaspoon per glass. A matero is filled with dried leaves to about a quarter, and for beginners we recommend starting with even two tablespoons — the infusion turns out milder and is easier to get used to. Third difference: tea is brewed once, yerba is steeped multiple times — the same leaves work for an hour or longer, and the flavor changes with each refill. We described the whole process step by step in our guide how to brew and drink yerba mate.
In summer, it’s worth knowing that yerba also has its cold side: tereré, meaning cold brewing with ice and juice. You’ll find the recipe in the text about cold yerba mate.
Flavor and ritual: cup versus matero
Tea is a one-cup drink. Yerba is a one-vessel, many-refills drink. It’s drunk from a matero through a bombilla — a metal straw with a strainer at the end — topping up with water whenever the infusion runs low. In South America, one matero circulates among a group of friends; in Poland, it more often accompanies one person through an entire morning at a desk.
In terms of flavor, they’re different worlds. Black tea is tannic and fruity, green tea — grassy and light. Yerba is herbal, bold, with a bitterness that after a week of drinking turns from a flaw into the very reason you keep coming back. For those just starting out, we also recommend flavored variants — with fruit or mint — which soften the first impression.
“Paraguayan tea” in crosswords and everyday speech
If you got here from a crossword: the clue “Paraguayan tea” is most often simply mate (4 letters) or yerba (5 letters). The term became common in Polish long before yerba became popular — and while it isn’t botanically precise, no one takes offence at it. At Yerbador we simply say: yerba. And when customers ask for “that Paraguayan tea”, we give them exactly what they came for.
Who is yerba for instead of tea?
People usually turn to yerba when tea gives them too little and coffee too much. If you’re on your third coffee before noon and your hands are shaking — yerba gives longer, steadier stimulation from a smaller dose of caffeine at a time. If you stick with tea out of habit but are looking for something “more” — yerba brings a ritual that genuinely structures your day. Many people also start with yerba when changing their eating habits; we write extensively about how holly leaves support appetite control in our complete guide to yerba mate and weight loss.
Leaf purity: what we check before it reaches you
Since yerba is meant to be a daily drink, we treat it more seriously than many a tea house treats its teas. The leaf comes from Brazil, is packed in Europe, and the quality of production and distribution is certified by the Swiss OROTAL. The dried leaves are tested in independent laboratories: IWNIRZ (authenticity), J.S. Hamilton (compliance with standards), GBA Polska (heavy metals, pesticides, PAHs). On top of that, HACCP, KIWA and the Quality Certificate from the National Medicines Institute. Details and document scans are gathered on our research and certificates page.
From cup to matero: three good starting points
Yerba De Brasil 0.5 kg
A classic Brazilian yerba for first tries. Half a kilo lasts several weeks of daily drinking, and the price lets you check risk-free whether this infusion is for you.
Check the current price — See the product
Airtight tube – 100% leaves only, 300 g
A version for those who valued premium leaf-only grades in tea: pure leaf, without stems or dust, in an airtight tube that protects the aroma. Milder and sweeter in taste than dried leaves with stems.
Check the current price — See the product
Starter set: tube + matero + bombilla
A complete switch from a cup in one box: dried leaves, vessel and bombilla. You’ll prepare your first matero on delivery day, with nothing else to buy.
Check the current price — See the product
Serving tea at your venue? Add yerba to the menu
More and more cafés and restaurants are adding yerba mate alongside teas — it’s an item that makes a menu stand out and attracts younger guests. We show you how to introduce yerba mate to your venue step by step, and wholesale orders are handled by our yerba mate wholesale:
Frequently asked questions
Is yerba mate a tea?
No. Tea is made from the leaves of the Chinese camellia, while yerba mate comes from the leaves of the Paraguayan holly. These are two different plants from two different continents. It’s colloquially called “Paraguayan tea” because of the similarity in the way it’s prepared.
Does yerba mate contain theine?
Theine is simply another name for caffeine — it’s the same molecule. A serving of yerba mate provides 60–120 mg of caffeine, which is more than a cup of tea (40–60 mg), but its effect is less abrupt than coffee.
Can yerba mate be brewed with boiling water, like tea?
We don’t recommend it. Boiling water draws out a strong bitterness from the leaves. The optimal temperature is 70–80°C — water should rest for 3–4 minutes after boiling. This is the most common mistake made by people switching from tea.
What exactly does “Paraguayan tea” mean?
This is a colloquial Polish term for yerba mate, also found in crossword puzzles (clues: mate, yerba). The name refers to Paraguay, where the tradition of drinking the infusion originated — though today the dried leaves come mainly from Brazil and Argentina.
A cup or a matero — the choice is yours
Tea and yerba mate don’t have to compete. One stays for the evening with a book, the other takes over the mornings and long working hours. If this text has sparked your curiosity, the simplest thing is to try it yourself: choose your first yerba mate in the Yerbador shop.
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