Maté is a plant that comes from South America. These herbal teas are widely consumed in this region of the world. This drink is traditionally consumed in a gourd with a filtering pipe. Maté is often used as a medicinal plant for its many associated virtues and health benefits. However, did you know that there are different kinds of yerba maté? Indeed, you can find traditional maté, but also a flavoured version or even an organic one. Green maté is named so because of its distinctive colour. It is often confused with green tea, but the components of these two products are not the same. Let us take a moment to look at these different variants of maté and the mistakes to avoid when distinguishing green teas, organic tea and maté.
Difference between maté and green maté: the types of maté
When talking about this unique drink, we can refer to maté and green maté. Their main difference lies in their colour. However, there are certain distinctions between these variants. Classic maté comes from the leaves of the tree that produces it. The leaf is first dried and ground before being left to mature for approximately one year. Yerba maté is a natural stimulant that acts as a tonic for your body and mind. Indeed, maté is particularly recommended as a remedy against physical fatigue and mental fatigue. As for green maté and health, it helps fight cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure. It is also a rich source of minerals. This slimming ally acts as a diuretic and promotes the effective elimination of toxins. Flavoured maté was created to counteract the sometimes bitter taste of this drink. Indeed, there are now matés with pleasant flavours such as red fruit, mint, lemon or citrus versions. Finally, you can also find organic maté. Its primary characteristic is that it comes from manually sorted maté leaves grown through organic farming.
Maté and green maté, what are they?
What is green maté? It originates from regions of South America, namely Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, and part of Brazil. The drink known as maté comes from the leaves of a tree. Green maté, named so for its distinctive colour, is composed of caffeine and polyphenols. You can drink it like a cup of tea. As for the composition of green maté, it is rich in vitamin B, antioxidants, potassium and iron and contains no calories. Brazilian green maté is a detox drink often used as part of a diet, as it aids digestion and is a slimming aid not to be overlooked.
Green maté and green tea: the distinctions to avoid confusing them
Green tea and green maté are two drinks that share certain similarities, but they should not be confused. To begin with, maté and tea do not have the same origin. Tea comes from the "Camellia Sinensis" plant, while maté comes from a leafy tree of the holly family. The maté leaf is rich in mateine, a molecule similar to theine and caffeine. However, the caffeine content is not the same in both drinks. In fact, the concentration is higher in maté compared to tea. As for taste, tea offers a wider range of options depending on its colour and region of origin. The taste of maté is closer to that of an infusion with a slightly bitter flavour. Green maté and green tea are both natural remedies beneficial for your digestion and digestive system. Finally, the preparation of green maté and green tea is different. In most cases, tea is steeped whereas maté is consumed in a gourd and filtered directly using a bombilla, a metal tube.
Where to find green maté?
Maté and green maté are scientifically recognised for their therapeutic properties and beneficial effects on your health and body. You can find them in organic shops, herbalists or in mainstream tea retailers. You will find a variety of maté and choose the one that best suits your situation, your tastes and your needs.