HereToRockYourWorld said:

With milk? Intriguing. Cause the rose tea i got came in dried rose petal form, though i'm sure it'z worth a try!

unkemptpueblo said:

I've never tried it. The name scares me.

HereToRockYourWorld said:

oh, don't be scared. it's good stuff. plus, it's one of the healthiest things in the world for you. try it before snapple makes a travesty of it, too.

Anx said:

What's so healthy about it?


I haven't even had it, but Snapple Yerba Mate:

a good detoxifier
produces deeper sleep
boosts the immune system
relieves allergies
increases energy
possibly reduces the risk of diabetes and hypoglycemia
relaxes muscles
burns more calories
increases mental focus
improves mood
possibly increases the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the heart during exercise
decreases hunger cravings
possible prevention of some cancers
possible reduction of heart attack and stroke
beneficial to the digestive tract

Some of these benefits derive from Yerba Mate's similarity to Green Tea. Of the 196 volatile chemical compounds found in Yerba Mate, 144 are also found in green tea. Its processing method, like that of green tea, preserves similar antioxidants and nutritive values. The Journal of Alternative Complement Medicine summarizes, "Yerba mate is thus a rich source of polyphenols and has antioxidant properties comparable to those of green tea" (2003). As it turns out, Yerba Mate taken in the Traditional Method is "more effective than either green tea or red wines" at "producing the highest concentration of polyphenols" in the blood (Bixby, 2005).

Other benefits derive from Yerba Mate's unique compounds. The Journal of Ethnopharmacology identifies many of Yerba Mate's helpful nutrients; "Vitamins B-1, B-2, A, riboflavin, carotene, colin, pantothenic acid, inositol and 15 types of aminoacids." (F. Alikaridis 1987). Sanz and Isasa found that, "Significant quantities of potassium, sodium and magnesium are present in the leaves as well as the infusion." (Arch Latinoam Nutr,1991, Vol 41, No 3, Sep, 1991, pp. 441-454). All of these nutrients are important to healthy body function.

i have better rants about yerba mate, but nothing that's reproduced online. this schpiel i googled up should give you an idea:

What kind of tree hugging hippy thread is this?!?

jerseykrs said:

go back to drinking your taster's choice and vodka cocktail, bud.

does anyone seriously drink taster's choice or sanka anymore? i'd try taking up sanka just for the retro kitsch of it, but that stuff is nasty. who drank this?

does anyone seriously drink taster's choice or sanka anymore? i'd try taking up sanka just for the retro kitsch of it, but that stuff is nasty. who drank this?

Anx said:

It's very hard for me to admit this.

No Taster's Choice, but I did recently purchase some of those Folgers coffee-in-a-teabag singles things. For emergencies.

HereToRockYourWorld said:

Are they good? Okay, better question: how well can you doctor them up?

i can speak for the energy, digestive and hunger craving benefits...drinking a pot of yerba mate is, for me, like popeye eating a can of spinach. it has VERY noticeable effects, and the best part is, you don't crash from the energy rush you get...and you have all those other benefits going to town on your body.

if you have a bulk coffee/tea store, just get like 1/4 pound of the stuff to try it. i don't think it has a bad taste...in fact, i get the roasted yerba mate because it has a yummy bitter taste like coffee.

Anx said:

do you read utne or something?

they're always selling yerba mate in the back of that magazine along with wool socks from Guatemala, organic deoderant, and dating services for people who went to ivy league schools.

Anx said:

do you read utne or something? they're always selling yerba mate in the back of that magazine along with wool socks from Guatemala, organic deoderant, and dating services for people who went to ivy league schools. it's like old hippie crack that yerba mate.

the utne reader actually did a whole article on yerba some years back and it definitely sounds like an interesting drink. The only thing that keeps me from trying it is the fact that it's a stimulant and it seems like it's stronger than coffee. I'm afraid that i'll like it so much that i'll turn into a monster without it.

If I liked tea I might respond to this thread but I don't.


Oh, I just did.

onenitealone said:

i think you have tea dysphoria.