I've been hearing about Mate a lot lately while special news reports on European televisions mention this drink that's taking the continent by storm. With rumors about Taurine's side effects and those energy drinks filled with sugar, Mate, the herb with health benefits might be coming our way in 2015.
Mate sometimes spelled maté in English, also known as yerba mate, is a traditional South American caffeine-rich infused drink, particularly in Argentina (where it is defined by law as the "national infusion), Uruguay, Paraguay and Southern Brazil, and to a lesser degree in southern Chile, the Bolivian Chaco, Syria and Lebanon. It is prepared by steeping dried leaves of yerba mate in hot water.
Mate is served with a metal straw from a shared hollow calabash gourd. The straw is called a bombilla in some Latin American countries, a bomba in Portuguese, and a bombija or, more generally, a masassa in Arabic. The straw is traditionally made of silver. Modern, commercially available straws are typically made of nickel silver, called alpaca; stainless steel, or hollow-stemmed cane. Even if the water is supplied from a modern thermos, the infusion is traditionally drunk from mates or cuias.
Yerba mate leaves are dried, chopped, and ground into a powdery mixture called yerba. The bombilla acts as both a straw and a sieve. The submerged end is flared, with small holes or slots that allow the brewed liquid in, but block the chunky matter that makes up much of the mixture. A modern bombilla design uses a straight tube with holes, or a spring sleeve to act as a sieve.
"Tea-bag" type infusions of mate have been on the market in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay for many years.
Now, Mate is available in a soft drink style glass bottle and surely coming our way soon.
Club-Mate... My Latest Discovery:
Club-Mate is an exclusive beverage beloved of people of every age and available in over 30 countries. Club-Mate contains very low level of sugar, has positive influence on the neural system, improves metabolism and concentration and is extremely effective against body fatigue. Each bottle contains one full spoon of Yerba mate tea which brings a refreshing and stimulating effect.
Club-Mate is a caffeinated carbonated maté-extract beverage made by the Loscher Brewery (Brauerei Loscher) in Germany. Club-Mate is popular for its relatively high caffeine content (20 mg per 100 ml) and low sugar content compared to other beverages and energy drinks. Club-Mate became well known in the Berlin's club scene during the 90’s as an alternative to unhealthy energy drinks. Club-Mate does not contain any traces of synthetic Taurine.
Nowadays, Club-Mate is distributed in over 30 countries around the world and every year this fantastic beverage is being sold in large quantities.
Club-Mate is an exclusive beverage, available in 330 ml and 500 ml bottles and four flavours. The savour of Club-Mate is somehow different but refreshing. It tastes like a soft drink, but not as a sweet. It features a unique combination of caffeine and tannins. It stimulates but doesn't make you fidgety. Club-Mate combines everything, the market demands, it's both thirst-quenching and delicious. It invigorates and gives you a boost !!!
Club-Mate is made from Mate - an old South American jungle plant. With its naturally occurring unique combination of stimulants, maté still works miracles, even in this day and age.
Club-Mate is based on natural ingredients and suitable for vegans and vegetarians. It is also an ECO product only available in glass bottles.
Club Mate is Berlin’s most famous soft drink. Its distinctive taste and extremely high caffeine content makes it a drink of choice for everyone from hipsters to techies to all-night partiers. After a big success in Germany and other countries it is available in the UK now.
Club-Mate combines everything the market demands, it's both thirst-quenching and delicious. It invigorates and gives you a boost!
Anyone getting it to Lebanon soon?
