Benzo[ a]pyrene concentration in the 2006, 2008 and 2010 yerba maté samples. The dashed line shows the benzo[ a]pyrene content of the yerba maté brand that never touched smoke (Brand A). Pour hot water into the “little valley” about halfway up the gourd, still keeping the tip of the “little mountain” dry. Ximango is a slightly different Brazilian mate known as chimarrao. It is prepared differently, and it has a different appearance, composition, and taste compared to what you’ll get from a typical mate.

The flavor is very earthy and, as mentioned, has a bitter edge to it. Using a bit of cream in your tea can temper this bitterness. Some people compare it to a strong tasting green tea, but it is much woodier, especially if you try a traditional blend with the stems. We observed large differences in PAH concentrations between brands and within each brand of yerba maté over time. This is not surprising, since it is difficult to control the exact amount of smoke that the yerba maté leaves are exposed to during the traditional drying process. But these differences by brand and batch suggest that very high PAH content is probably not essential for marketing yerba maté, so it may be possible to reduce the PAH content of processed yerba maté without significantly affecting its quality or marketability. The lower levels of total PAH and carcinogenic benzo[ a]pyrene in the commercial yerba maté brand that had not been exposed to smoke are consistent with this hypothesis. Inato organic yerba mate is another quality brand made from Brazilian shade-grown mate in high altitude farms. The product only contains leaves without mate stems, so the taste isn’t the strongest on this list. Ecoteas Organic Unsmoked is a yerba mate brand designed for you if you want your mate drink as natural as possible with little or no processing. This is a purely organic brand made by an environmentally aware company. The lowest concentration of benzo[ a]pyrene in any of the yerba maté samples, 5.11 ng/g, was found in the 2010 brand which was processed without ever touching smoke. Figure 2 shows the concentrations of benzo[ a]pyrene in the 2006, 2008 and 2010 yerba maté samples, with the horizontal line denoting the benzo[ a]pyrene concentration of the brand prepared without touching smoke.

Leave a comment

Yerba mate is more than just an all-naturalenergy drink. When consunmed regularly and in balance, it has a positive effect on mood over the long haul.

Several things are still unclear around PAH and yerba mate. Mainly, how much PAH is transferred in yerba mate infusions and how much of that is absorbed when ingested. The current studies show a wide variation regarding these numbers. According to a study published in 2012 that tested the PAH levels of various samples of yerba mate, the sample with the lowest concentration of benzo[ a]pyrene was processed “without ever touching smoke.” In this article, we’ll outline exactly why we’ve chosen each of these teas to represent the best of yerba mate, as well as explain a little bit more about why you should be incorporating this tea into your daily life habits. What is Yerba Mate?

Differences between smoked and unsmoked yerba mate

The American company also sells other types of teas that are not made of yerba mate, so you should be sure of the makeup of the Buddha Teas you buy. 17. Runa Yerba mate comes from a small tree in the holly family ( Ilex paraguariensis). It is native to a region of northern Argentina, southern Brazil, and eastern Paraguay called the Matto Grosso, or Interior Atlantic Forest. If we had to say what the main difference between smoked yerba mate and unsmoked yerba mate is, we would have to talk about the particular smoky taste of the first type. But how do we get there? We will explain this in more detail below. Yerba mate elaboration process CBSe isn’t one of the most popular yerba mate brands amongst traditional drinkers, but if you’re looking for flavored yerba mate, it is one of the first few options you’ll find. This is well within the recommended daily intake of caffeine, which is 400mg, but it is enough to bump up your energy levels and give you the boost you need to stay concentrated while performing your daily tasks. It Can Help at the Gym

These flavors aren’t similar to what you get with the canned drinks. So, instead of a mango flavor, for example, you’ll have a flavor such as Dark Roast.One such study showed that overweight adults given 3g (0.11oz) of yerba mate powder daily lost around 1.5lbs (0.45kg) and some belly fat. It Can Help Fight Diabetes and Other Diseases In North America, yerba mate has a niche as a cutting edge energy herb, but in South America yerba mate is everywhere! You see grandmothers sipping yerba mate at bus stops. Teenagers sipping yerba mate outside night clubs. Families sipping yerba mate at the beach. The grocery stores have a yerba mate aisle with about thirty different brands. It also contains saponins, which are known for their anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering qualities. It Can Improve Concentration In fact, one study shows they’re present in all eight of the commercial brands they tested, including benzo[a]pyrene which seems to pose the greatest risk.

There are many brands of yerba mate in existence today, but the best of them are almost always made in South America. The bulk of the options on this post are from the continent, but they are sold worldwide. Benefits of Yerba Mate When the leaves are cultivated and harvested, they’re transported to their first drying step known as sapecado or sapeco. This is important for later so pay close attention. Subsequent analysis (after 1991) found that not only mate—but other beverages—appeared to be carcinogenic when consumed hot or very hot. In addition, animal studies found that hot water could induce esophageal tumors in nitrosamine treated rodents, while cold mate reduced the incidence of these tumors. While you don't need to speak like a local to enjoy yerba mate, we hope this helps you feel more comfortable! PAHs are a group of naturally occurring chemicals found in coal, coal tars, oil, wood, tobacco, charcoal and other carbon-containing organic materials.Yerba mate and coffee are both caffeinated beverages usually consumed hot, but that is where their similarities end. It is an excellent option if you want yerba mate handy on your desk at work or for preparing cold brew yerba mate. The result is a brew that isn’t quite as strong as one made from traditional loose yerba mate leaf.