Yerba mate is a plant; its leaves can be steeped in water and consumed as tea. It comes to us from Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. It is becoming more popular in the US for its purported health benefits of improved mood, depression, and fatigue as well as weight loss among others. It appears that yerba mate consumed in moderation for short periods of time causes no obvious harm or side effects. (Additional research is still needed.) There is always caution on the amount of caffeine one consumes and yerba mate is just one of the many items that contain caffeine. It does appear that consumption of large amounts of this tea can increase your risk for cancer. Those who smoke and drink yerba mate together for a long period of time are at 3-7 times more likely to develop cancer.
I recently tried this tea and it has a very mild and subtle taste. I can't put my finger on a distinct taste or crowd cheering description, but I can say that it, along with many other teas, was enjoyable. Consumption in moderation appears to be harmless; therefore, if you are a tea connoisseur (or connoisseur in training), why not give it a try. On the other hand, if you are interested in yerba mate only for its supposed claim to fame health benefits, I suggest looking else where (i.e. Lifestyle measures!) For additional facts, check out WebMD and ConsumerReports.org. Happy learning!
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