- Joel Muñoz
- Apr 9
- 4 min read
Ilex Paraguariensis: All about the yerba mate plant
Ilex paraguariensis, known as the yerba mate plant, grows in the Paraná rainforest of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. It is the only variety used to produce Taragüi yerba mate. Its leaves are harvested and processed to obtain an infusion rich in antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, which improves digestion, provides energy, and promotes cardiovascular health.
Yerba mate tea is the favorite beverage of millions of people in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil; however, in recent years, it has begun to generate international interest as a completely natural beverage with countless health benefits. As it gains popularity, we are also learning more about its origin, preparation, and properties.
What is mate?
Mate is a herbal infusion prepared with yerba mate, made from a plant called Ilex paraguariensis. It has a slightly bitter taste, and although there are several ways to drink it, the most traditional is the hot mate cebado, which is prepared by adding hot water to yerba mate in a special container and drinking the infusion through a thin tube called a bombilla.
The Guaraní people (natives of some South American countries) are often credited with studying and delving into the benefits of yerba mate, designing the method by which the beverage is prepared and consumed today. Later, the Jesuits were responsible for cultivating, transporting, and marketing yerba mate. Currently, the yerba mate plant grows in Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. All attempts to cultivate it outside of these territories have been unsuccessful.
Characteristics of Ilex Paraguariensis
The yerba mate tree is native to the Paraná rainforest, which stretches between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. It is part of a large family of species with more than 600 varieties; Ilex Paraguariensis is the only variety used for yerba mate production.
The yerba mate tree grows 10-30 meters tall in its natural state; however, it remains below 2 meters for harvest. The leaves are evergreen, thick, and dark green. The plant bears small whitish flowers and small red balls, which are the fruit of yerba mate.
The name Ilex Paraguariensis comes from the region where the yerba mate infusion was originally drunk. "Paraguariensis" comes from "Paraguaria Province," an area that encompassed Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Brazil, and Chile, where the Guaraní Jesuit missions were established.s.
How is the yerba mate plant grown?
The Ilex paraguariensis, or yerba mate, plant is cultivated primarily in the humid subtropical region of Argentina, in the provinces of Misiones and Corrientes, where rainfall reaches about 1,800 millimeters annually and average temperatures are 21°C. The plant also requires the red soils typical of these regions, which provide the acidity and minerals it needs. The dried seeds are sown between March and April. The plants are taken to a nursery when they begin to leaf out, where they spend up to a year before being cultivated in the field, where they will remain for the next 3-5 years before the first harvest. The yerba mate plant can have a productive life of up to 100 years.
How is the yerba mate plant harvested?
Yerba mate infusion is obtained from the ground dried leaves and branches of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. Harvesting of yerba mate leaves is generally done manually (although some establishments also have special machines), beginning between January and May and extending through September. The harvest period can last up to 10 months. At the end of the harvest, the yerba mate tree regenerates and produces more leaves.
These yerba mate leaves are dried with heat and then crushed. After a carefully controlled ripening phase, comes the milling process, where the different parts of the plant are crushed and mixed in varying proportions before being packaged.
After packaging and distribution, yerba mate reaches supermarkets in consumer countries: Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, and parts of Chile; and is also exported to other countries around the world. Ready to be prepared as a delicious and very healthy infusion!
The incredible properties of the yerba mate plant
Yerba mate is naturally composed of almost all the micronutrients the body needs, such as minerals, amino acids, and essential vitamins, mainly from the B group.
It is antioxidant and detoxifying
Regulates cholesterol
Improves digestion and intestinal transit
Contains no fat or sodium chloride
It is also a powerful stimulant and produces an energizing effect greater than that of coffee or tea; thanks to its caffeine content and method of consumption, which makes it the favorite beverage of many renowned athletes and a great alternative to energy drinks.
Yerba mate today
In Argentina, mate is the most consumed beverage after water, with an average of 100 liters of mate per person per year, according to the National Yerba Mate Institute. It is also considered the national drink in Uruguay. In Paraguay, cold mate (called tereré) is commonly drunk, and in southern Brazil, it is drunk as chimarrão. In all of these countries, drinking mate is also part of the culture and lifestyle of their citizens.
But yerba mate consumption today transcends South America. It is possible to buy and drink yerba mate throughout Europe and the United States, gaining more and more followers every day due to its excellent properties.
