How much caffeine is there in yerba mate?

Yerba mate is one of those natural elements that are good for your health and has an element that sets it apart: caffeine.

The question is: how much does it contains? According to some recent studies, in a conventional size mate, the figures are 68 milligrams of caffeine per 100 milliliters of hot water.

This as long as we are talking about the conventional types of yerba mate and not those that are presented in their packaging as soft. Also, it is not an exact measurement since ideal proportions were used, while the proportions of mates change, therefore, also the ammount of caffeine. 

Is there yerba mate without caffeine?

The classic yerba mate usually has caffeine, a component that is healthy and works as a source of energy for our body. However, there are some who do not tolerate caffeine or just prefer to consume it in coffee, or not at all.

For this reason, the answer of wether there is a yerba mate without caffeine is certaintly yes. As we did in another case, we leave you with a series of types of yerba mate and brands that do not have caffeine.

1- Yerba mate ginger

This usually has a soft component that works like a traditional yerba suitable for nervous people. The difference is the ginger that eliminates the caffeine while providing other types of properties.

In the local market, one of the best sellers is from “La Selva”, and it comes in its 1kg format.

2- Organic herbs

Few of these are seen in the local market, since it is a quite premium product. 

This type of herbs are made with very special care and a unique treatment of the leaves. In addition, they do not have dust nor any type of residue from chemicals, since they do not use other components that do not come from the earth.

3- With shells, but ecological

This type of herbs usually have traces of ginger or lemon; they are fruity. As in the previous case, the great difference is that they are organic and not compounded, like most of those sold in supermarkets.

The brands that arrive in Uruguay, like the vast majority of the type of herbs, come from Brazil.

What herb do I cure my mate with?

As we have explained on other occasions the curing process must be carried out meticulously to achieve the expected result.

A crucial factor is the type of yerba with which the pumpkin is cured. Ideally, try to use a very bitter classic yerba. Why? It will detach a unique flavor, thus prevent the gourd from expelling substances that may end up affecting the bitterness of your mate.

In case you do not use this type of yerba mate or have it handy, you can also try one for nervous or soft. Although it is not very strong, it will give your mate the enough degree of bitterness it needs.

So, is there any type that should not be used in this process? Avoid using flavored ones or any type which combine natural medicine elements. With these types of yerbas, the pumpkin takes longer to completely cure.

If you don’t have another type of yerba, you can ask someone you know to keep the one they used to cure your mate. As a last resort, just implement the one you are consuming knowing that the process will be longer.

A relevant point to highlight is that the yerba used to cure the pumpkin at the first use should be neccessarily already used. 

How necessary is it to cure mate?

Although we would love to state the contrary, the curing process is highly neccessary. A poorly cured mate can cause some setbacks for health and, above all, it causes the taste of the infusion to be not good. We assure you that the first day wait is totally worth it. 

Some benefits of drinking mate

We are going to leave you six benefits of drinking mate, so that in addition to taking advantage of a traditional ritual, you can develop a good habit for your health.

1- It is antioxidant

Yerba mate contains a high content of polyphenols which improve the body’s defenses and prevent cell aging.

2- Prevents diseases

By preventing the accumulation of cholesterol and triglycerides in the arteries, the infusion of mate reduces the risk of suffering from various diseases such as cardiovascular and arteriosclerosis.

3- Purify your body

It has a diuretic and moderately laxative effect, which avoids fluid retention in the body.

4- Provides vitamins

Yerba mate has B group vitamins and minerals such as potassium and magnesium, essential to face the day to day.

5- It is a natural energizer

As we mentioned at the beginning, it has caffeine, so this means two things: that it increases stimulation and concentration, just like coffee.

With what healthy foods may you accompany the mate?

Mate is a drink that is usually consumed by high-performance athletes, as an energizing liquid during or before training. In addition, it is usually recommended by specialists as something to include in diets.

Something that always come hand to hand with the infusion is some type of food, either to share or to consume alone. For this reason, and with the understanding that the objective is not to gain weight, it is necessary to pay close attention to what type of food is selected.

1- Rice crackers

They are a nutritious and rich options, in addition to the fact that they can be accompanied with some other element such as feta cheese.

2- Integral cookies

They are quite similar to the common ones, but have a much lighter nutritional value. These can also be accompanied with cheese in its different versions.

3- Nuts

It is a quick alternative, which also works in cases where mate is being shared. These have a high protein load, which is useful both before and after training.

4- Cereals

They are also suitable for a moment where several people are involved. Apart from this they offer the advantage of carrying natural sugars that activate mechanisms in our body that are key before training.