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Herbal (tisane) · The gourd herb

Yerba Mate

Ilex paraguariensis, mate, chimarrão

7.7/10 editor's score

A caffeinated holly from South America, drunk from a gourd through a metal straw. Jesuits first farmed it in Misiones in the 17th century.

CaffeinatedBoldSharing
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Tisane, not from Camellia sinensis. Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry yerba mate, top-down

What you need

5 g yerbaYerba Mate
250 ml water70 to 80°C
Steep 3:002 steeps
InfusionCloudy yellow-green
Served inMate gourd and bombilla

At a glance

A caffeinated holly from South America, drunk from a gourd through a metal straw.

CaffeineMedium to high~40 to 80 mg
Beginner fit6.5 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestAutumn to winterCut in the southern autumn and winter.
Pairs withMedialunas, Biscuits, SharingLess good with delicate food
Grown asSubtropical forest uplandsMisiones, North-east Argentina
Served inMate gourd and bombillaGourd and metal straw

About Yerba Mate

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe mate as drunk hot in a gourd (chimarrão), cold as tereré, or as chá mate 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it is grown

MisionesNorth-east ArgentinaARGENTINA
Plant
Ilex paraguariensis, a holly 1
Caffeine
The plant and drink contain caffeine 1
Plantations
Jesuits in Misiones, mid-17th century 1
Cold
Brewed cold, it makes tereré 1

More from Misiones and Argentina.

History and culture

In the mid-17th century Jesuits domesticated the plant and set up plantations in Misiones 1.

"Mate" comes from the Quechua word for a gourd or drinking vessel 1.

Editor's score

7.7/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the plant, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 7.0Origin & heritage: 8.0Availability: 7.5Value: 9.0Beginner-friendliness: 6.5Versatility: 8.5Flavour 7.0Heritage 8.0Availability 7.5Value 9.0Beginners 6.5Versatility 8.5
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Yerba Mate~40 to 80 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg

Mate contains caffeine 1. The amount is our estimate. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

The main harvest is in the cooler months. Tap a month or a season.

The plant

Ilex paraguariensis, a shrub that grows into a tree up to 15 m 1.

How it is made
01Cutting

Branches cut.

02Sapecado

Quickly flashed over fire.

03Drying

Dried, sometimes with smoke.

04Ageing

Rested before milling.

Dry herb and infusion
Dry yerbaChopped green leaf, stems and powder.
LiquorCloudy yellow-green.
After steeping
Wet leafSoft green leaf.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Medialunas
  • Biscuits
  • Sharing

Best avoided

  • Delicate food

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque container, away from light, heat and moisture.
  • Dried flowers and leaves lose aroma within about a year.
  • Buy small amounts and keep away from spices and coffee, which taint the smell.
Quality and buying

Con palo (with stem) is milder; sin palo is stronger.

Buying tips

  1. Brazilian styles are greener and finer.
  2. Smoked styles are bolder.
FAQ
Does mate have caffeine?

Yes 1.

Find it inHerbal infusionsTeas from ArgentinaMisionesCaffeinatedBoldSharing

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Yerba mate". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yerba_mate
  2. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.