Yerba Mate

Contents: Yerba Mate (IIex paraguariensis) dried herb

Preparation: 1-2 tsp/cup, steep for 10 minutes.

Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) — Dried Herb (Leaf)

Ilex paraguariensis aerial parts are rich in methylxanthines (notably caffeine and theobromine), chlorogenic acids and other caffeoyl derivatives, flavonoids, and saponins, which collectively contribute to its complex phytochemical profile.¹,² In experimental and in vivo research, yerba mate extracts have been investigated for interactions with cellular oxidative pathways, influencing antioxidant capacity, radical scavenging, and metabolic enzyme systems without implying specific health outcomes.¹,³ Components such as caffeine and theobromine interact with central nervous system signalling systems in vitro, while phenolic acids are explored for redox modulation.¹

Traditional South American use of dried yerba mate leaf as a communal infusion (mate or tereré) spans centuries among Guaraní and other indigenous communities and has been documented ethnobotanically, reflecting cultural, nutritive, and social roles for the herb.² Contemporary studies continue to characterize its polyphenol and methylxanthine composition in relation to biochemical activity.¹,²

This information is for educational purposes only and does not refer to the effects of any specific product.

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1. Ezichi Favour, O., Chinwendu Angela, O., Tiffany Ezinne, G., Chioma Juliet, A., Sandra C, O., Simeon, B., Chidera Godson, C., Uzochukwu Eric, O., Chibuzo Collette, A., Justina Onyinyechi, O., & Henry Nnaemeka, O. (2025). Current Insights on the Effects of Medicinal Plants in the Management of Obesity and Infectious Diseases: An Update from 2020. Aspects of Molecular Medicine, 100075. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amolm.2025.100075
2. Santiano, F. E., Fernández, M. de los Á., Espino, M., Zyla, L. E., Rey, L., Gómez, S. E., Bruna, F. A., Pistone-Creydt, V., Pietrobon, E., Pérez Elizalde, R., Silva, M. F., Carón, R. W., & López Fontana, C. M. (2022). Protective effects of Yerba mate (IIex paraguariensis) on prostate cancer development. Nutrition, 108, 111957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2022.111957
3. Guardia, I., Miranda, M. J., Van Nieuwenhove, G., Bezdjian, L. P., Mercado, M. I., & Van Nieuwenhove, C. P. (2026). Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis): Secrets, traditions, and health benefits of the green South American treasure. In S. G. Sáyago-Ayerdi, M. H. Tunick, G. F. Loarca Piña, & A. F. González Córdova (Eds.), The science and culture of Latin American foods (pp. 213–234). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-33405-4.00012- 

Contains caffeine