Is mattiola used in tea. Useful properties and contraindications of Paraguayan mate tea

Among the variety of tea varieties, herbal infusions occupy a special place. Most of traditional recipes belongs to any nationality: for example, honeybush and rooibos came to us from Africa, catuaba - from Brazil, and lapacho - from Argentina. The birthplace of the increasingly popular mate (mate), which is made from holly leaves, is Paraguay. Read about the beneficial properties of "green gold" - an ethnic drink of the indigenous population of Latin America - and contraindications to its use.

Useful properties of mate

Experts call the drink something between tea and coffee. The tea "mood" and taste of mate acquires due to the fact that the technology of collecting and fermenting holly leaves practically does not differ from the harvesting of green teas. And with their stimulating and invigorating properties it owes matein, which is the chemical analogue of caffeine.

Mate is useful not so much due to the richness of the chemical composition, but because of the unusual effect on the body. Tea is able to both calm a person and help him concentrate, setting him in a working mood. But first things first. To positive properties drinks include:

• the ability to act as an antioxidant: blocking free radicals, mate fights premature aging;
• increase immunity and fight against viruses and bacteria;
• positive impact on work digestive system and the liver in particular;
• cleansing the body of toxins and toxins;
• lowering the level of bad cholesterol, prevention of atherosclerosis;
• stimulation of thinking processes, concentration of attention and memorization due to the content of a large amount of phosphorus;
• activation of the central nervous system in general: increased endurance and performance;
• mild diuretic effect.

In addition, the drink normalizes the content of adrenaline (stress hormone) in the blood and is recommended for those who suffer from a nervous breakdown, insomnia, or have experienced a traumatic situation.

For men, mate is a natural remedy for increasing muscle mass and even stimulating potency. The beautiful half of humanity often uses the drink to lose weight and rejuvenate the body.

Table: Comparison of the chemical composition of mate and pu-erh

It can be seen from the table that despite the identical energy value drink, mate is superior Puer tea by the amount of vitamins, macronutrients and iron in the composition. The only thing in which the Latin American drink is inferior to its Chinese "relative" is the content of vitamin C.

You can buy high-quality mate tea at this link - https://elitnie-chai.ru/travyanie-chai/mate.html

Video: Where did tea come from and what are the benefits of it?

Contraindications and possible harm

Since mate contains a sufficient amount of the stimulating substance matein, the drink is contraindicated in people with hypertension in the acute stage, in the acute period of a heart attack or stroke, and in diseases of the stomach and intestines.

Due to the diuretic effect, it is undesirable to use tea for urolithiasis, kidney failure and acid-base balance disorders in the body. Also, the removal of fluid from the body is dangerous during fever: the use of mate during this period is fraught with dehydration.

During studies of the effect of mate on the body, a dangerous pattern was revealed. In regions where this tea is preferred to all others, an increase in cases of cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus and Bladder. Scientists attribute this fact not to the harmful effects of the drink, but to the way of life of Hispanics who eat fatty meat foods, often drink alcohol and drink tea very hot. This creates the prerequisites for the formation of cancer of these localizations.

The indigenous inhabitants of Paraguay have many rules for brewing holly leaf. For example, calabash (or calabash) is considered a traditional dish for preparing a drink - a small gourd with a cleaned core, and it is drunk with the help of a special cane tube - bombilla. In modern conditions, calabash is made of ceramics, wood or porcelain, and a metal tube can replace the bombilla. And, of course, to get acquainted with the drink, you can drink it just from a cup. The main thing is to follow the recommendations of doctors:

• do not make Paraguayan tea a drink for daily use. Without harm to health, such a natural stimulant can be drunk one cup 3-4 times a week;
• do not drink mate too hot - its temperature should be comfortable for the oral and pharyngeal mucosa - 60-65 degrees;
• drinking a drink before bed is a bad idea, unless, of course, your goal is to stay awake all night;
• it is undesirable to drink tea on an empty stomach: the active components will negatively affect the gastric mucosa;
• It was not for nothing that the Indians used bombilla during tea drinking: the active components of the drink can destroy tooth enamel. Therefore, if you do not have the opportunity to use a straw, drink mate in small sips and do not allow it to linger in your mouth for a long time.

Milk, honey, sugar, jam and other sweeteners can be added to tea. But to enjoy the traditional taste of mate, drink it without additives, slowly, savoring every sip.

Mate during pregnancy: is it possible?

Doctors are very wary of herbal drinks during pregnancy: their effect on the body of the expectant mother and the developing child has not been studied enough. Therefore, it is highly undesirable to drink mate during the happy nine months:

• on the early dates pregnancy (in the first trimester), exotic tea can be dangerous: it causes contraction of the muscles of the uterus and increases the risk of miscarriage, and also interferes with the normal absorption of iron, which is extremely important for the development of the fetus;
• in the II and III trimesters, the drink is also undesirable, but those women who drank mate a lot and with pleasure before pregnancy can afford half a cup of tea once a week, if they really want to.

Exotic drink in the diet of nursing mothers

Despite all the benefits, nursing mothers should also refuse mate - a high content of stimulants can unpredictably affect the nervous system of a child who receives them with mother's milk. Eliminate the drink from the diet until at least seven to eight months of age of the crumbs, when he will receive complementary foods and will begin to breastfeed less.

Then, if you really want to enjoy your favorite drink again, try it little by little: drink a quarter cup of mate in the morning for breakfast and watch your baby's reaction throughout the day. If he behaves as usual, sleep and appetite remain at the same level, you can drink 1 cup of weakly brewed tea 1-2 times a week.

When can children try tea?

The stimulating effect of the drink is also explained by the fact that it is forbidden for children under 6–7 years old: parents are unlikely to be happy if an already energetic kid refuses to sleep at night and turns the house upside down. Mate is allowed for schoolchildren, but only in the first half of the day and no more than once a week.

Pancreatitis

AT acute stage inflammation of the pancreas, it is undesirable to drink a stimulating drink - pain and nausea may increase. After a week, you can return to the mate, but drink it warm, not hot. The maximum allowed dose is a cup of tea 1-2 times a week.

Diabetes

Scientists have proven that regular consumption of mate provides prevention of type 2 diabetes in obese patients, and also reduces blood glucose levels in pre-existing disease. It is recommended to drink tea in small sips in the morning 2-3 times a week. All sweet additives are, of course, excluded.

Cholecystitis

The stimulating effect of the drink is useful for cholecystitis. To improve the outflow of bile and alleviate the condition, it is recommended to drink 40–50 ml of mate before dinner throughout the entire period of exacerbation.

Gastritis and peptic ulcer

Mate is strictly prohibited during exacerbation of inflammation of the gastric mucosa and peptic ulcer, as it causes vasospasm and an increase in the duration of the disease. During a stable remission, enjoying your favorite drink, although undesirable, is still possible: drink half a cup of weakly brewed mate no more than once a week.

Mate for weight loss: fact or fiction?

Indeed, mate is often used as an assistant in gaining a slender figure. The biologically active substances and stimulants that make up the drink are able to literally dissolve body fat and remove them from the body. But it only works if you stick to the principles proper nutrition and play sports . The nuances of drinking a drink for a beautiful figure:

• do not exceed the recommended dosages of tea - drink no more than a glass 2-3 times a week;
• half an hour after drinking tea, sports are recommended: they will be more energetic, and you will be less tired;
• drink tea without added sugar and other sweeteners.

Paraguayan mate tea harm and benefit, which we will consider today in this article, is the pearl of every woman's tea collection! But, there are many people who do not yet know about the beneficial properties of this drink. So what is mate?

Indian drink from time immemorial

Needless to say, tea is a favorite among all drinks consumed on different continents. Depending on the processing of its leaves and further fermentation, it can be green, yellow, white, and even black and red!

However, there are also a huge number of herbal infusions in the world, which are very popular. At the same time, a rather significant place in this hierarchy of warm drinks is occupied by ethnic teas, which have quite a lot in common (method of consumption and brewing, effect on the body, etc.) with their traditional counterparts.

These exotic teas include:

• Brazilian catuaba;
• Argentine lapacho;
• honeybush;
• African rooibos;
• paraguayan mate.

The last one listed has a special place! The reason for this may be as incredible taste and the brewing procedure, as well as very conflicting reviews about its action. By the way, in our tea shops almost equally often, along with the inscriptions on the cans of “mate”, you can find the name of this drink as “mate”.

And after reading this article, be sure to check out the entry about! We promise it will be interesting!

Mate from Indian legends. The history of the drink

The benefits and harms of mate tea are fanned by ancient Indian legends. The indigenous population of Ancient America sincerely believed in its magical origin and properties. For centuries, it was believed that due to the proper use of mate tea, you can quickly quench your thirst, relieve hunger and fully restore your strength after a hard day's work.

The missionaries who discovered mate in the sixteenth century, of course, could not help but "put together" their business on gullible Indians. They bought the drink they liked from the local population for pennies and sent it to Europe, making decent money on the sale of this “green gold”.

Sailors on their long journeys used mate to escape fever and scurvy. During tropical jungle treks, this incredible drink provided energy and rejuvenation. How can you not believe in his magical qualities ?!

However, later, he was undeservedly forgotten for some time. True, after the discovery in the nineteenth century, plants with the name Illex paraguariensis it began to be cultivated in Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. From the crushed shoots and leaves of this plant, they began to produce on a factory scale, and the beneficial properties of this tea could strengthen it on the pedestal of the popular drinks of the South American continent.

A peculiar ceremony of making mate was even restored, for which they began to use a container made of a hollowed-out dried pumpkin (calabash) and a reed (less often metal) tube with a sieve at one end - a bombilla.

Mate brewing technology

So, if you want to get the most out of the benefits of mate, fully revealing its aroma and rich taste, you should purchase or make it yourself (growing such a pumpkin is a trifle for owners of summer cottages!) The above-described accessories. Naturally, we will need the welding itself.

For the first time, I would advise you to use tea with a filling (for example, mate with lemon), since the taste of a "clean" drink is quite specific and unusual for an inexperienced person.

The procedure for brewing tea is as follows:

1. we fill in the tea leaves for 2/3 of the volume of the prepared calabash and shake it so that there is free space near one wall of the container (we will insert the bombilla here after that);
2. we set the calabash in a vertical position and pour hot (about eighty degrees) water into it over a straw;
3. let the drink brew for five to seven minutes, and then use it through a straw in small sips;
4. the procedure of adding water is repeated until the taste of mate disappears completely (each time the taste becomes thinner and more interesting).

You can enjoy the benefits of Paraguayan mate tea with its bitter taste and hints of smoked meat in the aroma without special dishes. To do this, brew it according to European standards in a kettle and after 10 minutes enjoy the warmth of the Argentine sun in your kitchen!

Mate tea: benefits and harms

Benefit

Latin Americans consume mate throughout the day. Bitter in the morning - to get cheerfulness for the whole day, cool in the afternoon - to quench thirst and sweet in the evening (with honey or sugar) for a healthy and sound sleep.

This tonic drink is able to provide you with a whole list of healing properties, useful elements and reasons for you to become his fan!

Research at the Pasteur Institute found that mate contains more than two hundred components. He contains:

• trace elements: sodium, potassium, iron, manganese, copper, magnesium, etc.;
• tannins: tannin, etc.;
• saponins;
• bioflavonoids: quercetin and rutin;
• organic acids necessary for human health: resinous, isobutyric, isocaproic, isovaleric, etc.;
• a nicotinic acid;
• B vitamins;
• vitamin E;
• vitamin C;
• vitamin A.

The composition of the leaves of the plant is similar to chemical composition leaves green tea. At the same time, mate tea, the benefits and harms of which vary from the intensity of its use and the way of life, has some features in front of it:

• the mat contains the so-called "matein", which is an incredibly powerful alkaloid that allows you to quickly tone muscles and relieve tension after hard work;
• mate has a much higher level of antioxidants (even higher than green tea);
• different manufacturing methods (mate goes through several stages of slow drying and smoking, which gives a special hint of smoke in its aroma and taste).

Matein

This alkaloid deserves closer attention. In terms of its qualities, it is similar to its "brother" - caffeine. At the same time, it is able to have a more gentle and gentle effect on the human body, without burdening the work of the cardiac system and without causing excessive overexcitation.

Useful video about mate tea:

Mate tea can be called the most exotic tea for our country. It belongs to ethnic teas, along with Brazilian catuaba tea, Argentine lapacho, African rooibos. You can read a lot of conflicting reviews about mate tea, which are dictated by the unusual properties of the drink. So what can be expected from mate tea, harm or benefit?

History of tea

The indigenous population of Latin America shrouded this tea in numerous legends, believing that it had magical properties. Mate can cause an unusual surge of strength and vigor, satisfy hunger and thirst. In the 16th century, missionaries bought raw materials of unusual tea for next to nothing. Sending it to Europe, they decently earned. Mate tea was drunk by sailors, during long sea voyages, he saved them from severe fever and scurvy. He supported and invigorated travelers during their journeys through the rainforests.

For some time, tea was undeservedly forgotten. But in the 19th century, the plant Illex Paraguariensis was discovered. It began to be cultivated in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay. From the crushed shoots and leaves, they began to make mate tea, which was produced on an industrial scale. On the South American continent, he immediately became extremely popular.

Then the tea ceremony was invented using special dishes for mate: bombilla and calabash. The calabash was a pumpkin container, and the bombilla was a reed tube.

What is mate tea made from?

The raw materials for the manufacture of mate tea are the shoots and leaves of the Paraguayan holly. The plant is found in the wild and is also cultivated on plantations. Holly can reach a height of 15 meters. Has toothed leaves, small greenish-white flowers.

Collectors take the branches of the plant, pluck the leaves from them. The material is thoroughly dried. After that, the shoots, the leaves are crushed to a powder state. Good quality tea can be identified by the following parameters: the presence of dust, broken pieces of leaves and small remnants of the stem is mandatory.

The chemical composition of mate tea

Holly leaves contain more than 190 different components. This discovery was made by scientists from the Pasteur Institute. Among the elements contained in tea, the following can be distinguished:

• organic acids (isobutyric, isocaproic, isovaleric, resinous);
• vitamins (nicotinic acid, A, B, C, E);
• bioflavonoids (quercetin, rutin);
• tannins (tannin);
• saponins (beta-amirin);
• macro- and microelements (manganese, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron).

Compared to the classic green tea mate contains more antioxidants and alkaloids. Experts note that green tea contains caffeine, and mate contains mateine. It is similar in its action to caffeine, but its effect on the human body is more gentle and gentle. Matein does not cause an increase in heart rate, overexcitation. The invigorating effect of caffeine lasts about three hours, and mateine ​​invigorates several times longer. An important advantage of mate is that it does not cause sleep disturbances.

Health benefits of mate tea

Since ancient times, the Indians used a drink from holly to treat infectious diseases. Currently, for many diseases, it is recommended mate tea, the benefits of which have been proven by scientists.

• Stimulates the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Has a diuretic effect.
• Has antispasmodic properties.
• Improves vascular permeability.
• Accelerates metabolism.
• Reduces appetite.
• Improves the work of the heart.
• Helps to cope with depression.

Contraindications and harm of mate tea

Through research, scientists were convinced not only of the beneficial properties of tea, but also found that it can be harmful. People who have used mate in large quantities for many years have been examined. A relationship has been found between the occurrence of certain types of cancer and tea intake. The scientists concluded that heavy tea consumption in combination with active tobacco smoking and alcoholic beverages becomes a catalyst for tumor growth.

Statistics showed that the cause of oral cancer was that people drank tea too hot. Calabash, from which the drink is drunk, retains a high temperature for too long. This circumstance led to the occurrence of diseases of the bladder.

PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonates) have been found in tea. Their combination with alcohol, tobacco, fried meat creates favorable conditions for the development of tumors. It is not recommended to drink a large number of hot drink, especially while drinking alcohol and during a feast. If you follow these rules, use Paraguayan tea no more than two or three times a week, tea will only benefit.

How to make mate tea

There are some subtleties of brewing this tea. Brew it in the original container. It is called calabash, calabash. Previously, calabash was made from pumpkin, now it is made from stainless materials, wood, and plastic. They differ in volume. There are large volumes of calabash for large companies, there are small ones designed for single enjoyment of a drink.

Mate connoisseurs, after acquiring calabash, prepare it for further use. Pour the tea mixture into the calabash, pour 2/3 of the volume with high-temperature water. The vessel is left for a day without closing it with a lid. After that, the mixture is poured out, and the calabash is cleaned with a damp cloth.

A person who makes tea is called a sevador. The art of cooking is sevar. You can not rush when brewing a drink. The tea leaves are poured into calabash, poured with cold water, left for a while so that the tea leaves swell. Then a tube (bombilla) is inserted into the middle. On one side of this tube is a strainer, on the other - a mouthpiece. The tube is made of metal, before it was made of bamboo. Hot water is added to the container. After two minutes you can enjoy original taste drink. Tea can be brewed again.

How to drink mate

For the inhabitants of South America, the process of tea drinking is a sacrament. It lasts almost two hours, usually takes place in a large friendly company, in a warm atmosphere. Mate tea is drunk in small sips, the liquid is drawn out through a tube from the very thick. The tea must not be allowed to ferment in the vessel. Otherwise, bitterness is formed, the drink will become harmful. In tea rarely, but add ice, milk, sugar. It is believed that tea will fully open only after the fourth addition of hot water.

At daily use drink calabash enough to rinse after use, store wet. With rare use, calabash and bombilla should be thoroughly washed, turned over so that the water is glass.

Some have only heard about it, others have already managed to appreciate this magnificent, giving vivacity and good mood, drink. Mate tea - the legacy of the Indians of South America - has become a real gift for lovers of exotic drinks.

This is a fragrant drink that has a pronounced tonic effect. It is made from the dry collection of leaves and young shoots of the Paraguayan holly. This tall (up to 15 meters) shrub grows in other countries of South America, but the Indian tribes were the first to brew a drink from holly many hundreds of years ago.

Even then, they noticed its beneficial properties. After drinking tea, there was a surge of strength, stomach ailments passed. The Indians gave the drink the name "Mate" ("Mate"), which means "a jug made of pumpkin" - it was in such vessels that tea was brewed and served before.

The habit of drinking Mate was adopted by travelers and conquerors who arrived on the continent. He rendered invaluable assistance to them in the fight against the consequences of scurvy, which arose after long sea passages.

The Spanish conquerors brought Mate to Europe. But the drink was "an amateur", and did not immediately take root in European countries. Initially, it was used as a medicine to strengthen the body and fight anemia.

Today, Mate tea is popular. The holly grows both naturally and in specially created plantations, where the shrub is tended and then the leaves and shoots are harvested to make tea.

The chemical composition and calorie content of the drink

Mate tea contains alkaloids, tannins, iron, potassium, sodium, manganese, copper and magnesium. Also, those who drink Mate receive beta-carotenes and vitamins C, B, P and E.

100 g contains 151.8 kcal, as well as 13% protein, 11.3% fat and no more than 2.5% carbohydrates.

Thus, Paraguayan tea can provide a person with many necessary substances. And it's just amazingly delicious.

Useful properties of Mate tea for health:

This drink is truly invaluable:

1. The benefits of Mate tea are used in the treatment of a number of diseases. First of all, it should be drunk by those who suffer from diseases of the digestive system - gastritis with high acidity and heartburn, constipation.
2. The drink is able to normalize the pressure in hypertensive patients. It tones the walls of blood vessels, improves cerebral circulation.
3. The level of cholesterol, thanks to the use of tea, goes down.
4. A slight diuretic effect also refers to the beneficial properties of this tea.
5. Mate is also used to strengthen the immune system. It helps a person gain strength after suffering serious illnesses.

And it is also worth considering that matein, which is part of tea, invigorates no worse than coffee.

What is useful for women

Women drink Mate to lose weight faster. It allows you to lose extra pounds, as it accelerates metabolic processes in the body. In addition, with regular use of this drink, diets are easier to tolerate, since it dulls the feeling of hunger.

Mate is also useful for heavy painful menstruation

Useful properties for men

Paraguayan tea is invaluable for men who can not get rid of bad habits. It removes toxins from the body, reduces dependence on tobacco and alcohol. Thanks to tea, the body is updated and cleansed.

Instructions for use

Mate tea is brewed in a slightly different way than regular black tea. You will have to get calabash and bombilla - special dishes, close in properties to the authentic.

How to brew and drink mate tea

The best option would be to brew this type of tea in calabash. It is a special vessel, which can be purchased at stores selling various types tea. There you can also ask for a bombilla - an interesting tube with a filter.

1. Mate tea is poured into calabash. It should fill about two-thirds of the volume of the dish.
2. The calabash is shaken and tilted slightly.
3. Then a bombilla is placed in the vacated place, after which the vessel is placed on the table.
4. According to the line of the tube, cold water is poured. It should also occupy two-thirds of the remaining space. The remaining third is filled with boiling water.
5. After that, the tea is allowed to brew for 1-2 minutes.

In addition to this basic one, there are other various recipes making mate tea. It can be served with or with milk. In the latter version, up to 5 tablespoons of tea are poured into a liter of boiling milk, let it brew for a couple of minutes, and only after that they drink it.

Instead of cold water, you can use any sweet juices. Pour apple, peach, orange, pear or multifruit nectars into calabash. It is also allowed to add cinnamon and ginger to the drink.

Having learned how to brew and drink Mate tea correctly, you understand that you have mastered a real art that all lovers of this drink should definitely master.

You also need to know how to drink Paraguayan tea correctly. It is customary to slowly sip it from the dishes in which it was brewed, that is, from calabash. Leaving the drink "for later" is categorically not recommended - it will start to taste bitter, and the further, the more.

Those who have taken the time to study the rules of brewing Mate tea remain faithful to this magnificent drink for many years.

Mate tea for weight loss

Mate tea is part of many diets. If you simultaneously adhere to moderation in food and give the body physical activity, you can achieve excellent results. Subject to all conditions, it turns out to lose up to 4-5 kg ​​per month.

In order for Mate to give the maximum effect, you need to drink it for at least a month. But not more than 1 liter per day. Otherwise, you can earn a pronounced tachycardia and insomnia, because the composition of the drink includes caffeine.

Thanks to this tea, metabolic processes are accelerated, which contributes to the burning of calories, the breakdown and removal of fats. The diuretic effect of the drink helps the body get rid of excess fluid.

Mate also dulls the feeling of hunger. A cup of tea instead of dinner or an afternoon snack - and you will feel great, quietly losing pounds.

To whom the drink is contraindicated, and what is the harm from it

• These are small children and women who are expecting a child or breastfeeding.
• Do not drink the drink and those who suffer from colds with high fever.
• It is undesirable to use Mate for people with gallstones or kidney stones, allergy sufferers and those who have an individual intolerance to this drink.
• Those with a predisposition to oncological diseases of the esophagus or lungs (inflammatory processes, heredity) are also better off refusing to regularly consume Paraguayan tea.

How to store

When choosing tea in a store, you should pay attention to the following points:

1. The country of origin is indicated on the packaging. It is best to buy tea made in Paraguay.
2. Also look at the expiration date. The collection should not be old - it loses its aroma and properties over time.
3. The best mate tea is made from hand-picked leaves. It is not at all clear how this can be verified, but knowing this fact does not hurt anyone.
4. The most fragrant and tasty will be a drink made from dry raw materials, which contains the minimum number of shoots and the maximum number of leaves.
5. The packaging must be undamaged.
6. The composition of tea may contain various additives. Which option to choose is a matter of taste.

To keep tea for a long time, you should choose the right container for it. A tightly closed lid and airtight packaging will preserve the pleasant smell of Mate and avoid the absorption of foreign impurities. It is recommended to keep tea in a dry place.

You should not buy such a herbal collection hastily at the first available point of sale. It is better to take a walk to specialized stores - there you can choose the tea you like from several options, as well as purchase everything you need to brew it. And let the tea party be your holiday!

True connoisseurs of this drink prefer to refrain from buying this form of tea packaging. Real gourmets who know a lot about teas often prefer exotic varieties. For example, they do not need to be told what mate is and why it is so good.

A person inexperienced in these matters, such a huge variety of varieties of tea, which in beautiful packages and colorful jars stand in rows on the shelves in stores, can be confusing. Out of ignorance, many unfairly bypass exotic varieties. But some of them can benefit our bodies. For example, such a tea called mate, which is not very popular for our country, is very beneficial for health.

Tea, which came to us from South America, is sometimes called Paraguayan. And all because the tonic drink called mate is made from dried and crushed leaves and young shoots of the Paraguayan holly, which is also called "mate grass", mate and Paraguayan tea. The tree itself grows exclusively in Latin American countries.

Mate tea is very diverse. Paraguayan tea can be golden, green and brown. If the colors of the first two varieties of the drink are quite natural, then the tea leaves acquire a brown color after it is fried in a special way.

Whatever the mate variety, its taste is very unusual for a Russian person. It contains a little bit of bitterness, and at the same time a little sweetness - a rare combination, words cannot explain, you have to try it. The main thing here is to prepare the drink correctly. And there are a number of subtleties here.

Calabash and bombilla

It is not enough to buy mate tea itself. It is necessary to purchase special utensils for its use. First, you will need a vessel for making this type of tea, which is called calabash, or calabash. Initially, the Indians made them from gourds. Now, along with it, other materials are used. Such as, for example, oak wood, or porcelain, or ceramics. But if you cook mate according to all the rules, then you need to cook it in a calabash made from pumpkin.

Secondly, you will need something with which you will drink mate. This should be done with a special metal tube called a bombilla. Cane or bamboo reeds are also suitable. The second option is less preferable, since only the bombilla has a special strainer inside, thanks to which even the smallest particles of tea leaves are retained, as a result of which their entry into the mouth is completely excluded.

Not only do you need to use special equipment to prepare mate, it is important to follow the entire process correctly from start to finish. Especially if you use pumpkin calabash.

Before using this vessel for the first time, it must be "revitalized". To do this, fill the container with completely dry mate grass, pour hot water and insist about a day. Then pour out the drink, scrape the walls of the vessel from the inside to remove the top layer of softened wood.

After that, brew a new portion of tea in the container, which will be suitable for consumption. Such a long and, at first glance, unnecessary procedure for “revitalizing” the calabash is done so that the pores of the pumpkin are saturated with the substances contained in the mate grass, and henceforth you will not feel any extraneous tastes. A similar ritual should also be performed if the calabash has not been used for a long time.

But in no case do not leave the device filled for a long time. After standing for more than a day, the drink may become moldy, after which the vessel will have to be thrown away.

Calabash should not be stored not only filled, but also empty. Before putting it on the far shelf, it is recommended to fill the vessel with several grams of dry mate grass.

So, after the calabash has been infused for a day, the container is thoroughly cleaned and washed. After that, it is considered that it is ready for making a drink.

Everything according to the rules

There are many ways to brew mate tea. the classic way to prepare an unusual drink is this one: fill the calabash with dry mate by two thirds and shake it so that all the tea leaves are near one wall. After that, put the container on the table and insert the bombilla into it. Now you need to pour cold water into the calabash. But not to the top. Liquid should be a little more than half of the total volume of the entire calabash. The main thing is that the water slightly moistens the tea leaves, completely absorbed.

Readiness is determined by slightly tilting the jug. The tea leaves should swell a little and look like a thick green porridge.

Then pour some hot water or boiling water into the container. After a couple of minutes, the drink is ready. It is not recommended to insist the mate for a long time, otherwise it will be bitter.

With each subsequent brewing, the amount of hot water can be gradually increased until the calabash is completely filled and foam is formed. If part of the tea leaves on top of the jug is dry at first, it's okay. It will be re-brewed during the subsequent brewing process.

They also drink mate in a special way. It must be sipped in small sips, and the bombilla must always be at the very bottom of the calabash. That is, you should drink tea from the very thick. This will save you from the possibility of getting hot water.

The inhabitants of South America have another recipe for brewing mate tea. For this you need orange juice. It must be added to calabash instead of cold water. After that, just add hot water and put a piece of sugar. Well, now try it!

Not orange juice? Then you can try another extremely interesting way of brewing mate tea. He cooks the other way around. In one liter of boiling water, add dry tea leaves of mate and the same amount of sugar. Let it brew for a few minutes, mix thoroughly and - you can drink.

You can also use milk instead of orange juice. For several cups of tea, you need half a liter, no more. Heat it on the stove without bringing it to a boil. Add about 30 grams of mate to hot milk and mix thoroughly. After that, bring to a boil and immediately turn off. Strain through a strainer and pour into cups. In this case, calabash is not required, but you should not forget the bombilla. Why - we will tell below.

For pleasure and health

Mate is drunk both for pleasure and for some of the beneficial properties of this drink. Paraguayan tea, in addition to its amazing taste, has a lot of useful properties. First of all, it is an excellent tonic that helps to restore strength and has a beneficial effect on the protective functions of the body. It is drunk to improve mood, relieve symptoms of nervousness and anxiety, and increase physical activity. If you regularly drink the drink, then the obsessive feeling of anxiety will gradually go away.

Experts recommend mate as a remedy that affects the general psycho-emotional state and helps to calm the nervous system. This drink helps reduce blood pressure and for the better affects the work of the heart.

The tonic effect is achieved thanks to the mateine ​​contained in this herb. This substance is similar to caffeine, but more effective and does not cause side effects in the form of an increased heartbeat and nervous trembling. It allows you to increase the efficiency of the body and helps to increase its resistance to viral infections.

In terms of composition and trace elements, mate is comparable to ordinary black tea. It also contains vitamin A, E, C, P, B vitamins, as well as trace elements, including sulfur, magnesium, potassium, manganese, sodium, iron, copper, chlorine and some acids necessary for normal human life.

However, be careful!

With all the exceptional usefulness of Paraguayan mate tea, we must not forget that there are a number of restrictions and nuances that must be observed when drinking this drink.

Never drink mate tea on an empty stomach. Otherwise, unpleasant consequences from the stomach may occur.

You should not drink mate tea before going to bed, otherwise you will not fall asleep.

You can not drink this tea just from a cup. Improper use of mate without the use of bombilla can lead to deterioration of tooth enamel. Save your teeth! Do not let the drink linger in your mouth for a long time and do not drink it in large sips.

Do not drink hot mate. Scientists have conducted studies in which some connection was found between the use of hot mate and cancer of certain organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

In general, as in everything, a measure is needed here. Try this amazing tea, enjoy and experiment! Drink by yourself and brew with friends. If you follow all the rules for the preparation and use of this drink, then soon you will certainly feel all its beneficial properties.