Chimarrão: what it is, what it is for and how to do it

Mate tea is a type of tea made from the leaves and stems of a medicinal plant called yerba mate, scientific name Ilex paraguariensis, which is widely consumed in the south of the country, in the form of chimarrão or tereré.

The health benefits of mate tea are related to its constituents such as caffeine, the various minerals and vitamins, which provide different types of properties for tea, especially anti-oxidant, diuretic, mild laxative and is a good brain stimulant.

The high caffeine content of mate tea decreases the symptoms of depression and tiredness, leaving the person more alert and ready for daily activities, and for this reason, it is a drink widely used in the morning to start the day with more energy.

The main health benefits of mate tea are:

1. Lower cholesterol

Toasted mate tea can be taken daily as a home remedy for cholesterol because it decreases the absorption of fat from food due to the presence of saponins in its constitution. However, this home remedy should not replace the treatment indicated by the doctor, but it is an excellent way to complement this clinical treatment.

2. Help you lose weight

This plant has thermogenic action, which helps in the weight loss process and reduction of total body fat. Tea works by improving the signaling response of satiety, because it slows down gastric emptying time and reduces the amount of circulating leptin, and also decreases the formation of visceral fat.

3. Protect the heart

Mate tea has a protective effect on blood vessels, preventing the accumulation of fat inside the arteries, which consequently protects the heart from a heart attack. However, its regular consumption does not exclude the need to eat healthy, low in fat.

4. Control diabetes

Mate tea has a hypoglycemic action, which helps to lower the amount of sugar in the blood, but for this purpose it must be consumed daily, and always without sugar or sweetener.

5. Fight fatigue and discouragement

Due to the presence of caffeine, mate tea acts at the brain level, increasing mental disposition and concentration, so it is great to drink upon waking up and after lunch, but should be avoided at night, and from late afternoon, to not promoting insomnia, and making sleep difficult. Its consumption is particularly indicated for students, and people in the work environment in order to keep them alert.

The same benefits were found in toasted lion mate tea, mate herb, chimarrão and tererê.

How to make mate tea

Mate tea can be drunk hot or iced, and a few drops of lemon can be added.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of roasted yerba mate leaves, 1 cup of boiling water.

Method of preparation

Add the leaves of yerba mate in the cup of boiling water, cover and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain and take next. Up to 1.5 liters of mate tea can be consumed per day.

How to make chimarrão

Chimarrão is a common indigenous drink in the southern regions of South America, which is made from yerba mate and must be prepared in a specific container, known as gourd. In that bowl, tea is placed and also a "bomb", which works almost like a straw that allows you to drink chimarrão.

To prepare it in the form of chimarrão, you should put the mate herb, in chimarrão, inside the bowl until it fills about 2/3. Then, cover the bowl and tilt the container until the herb is accumulated on only one side. Finally, fill the vacant side with hot water, before entering the boiling point, and also place the pump up to the bottom of the bowl, keeping a finger on the opening of the straw and always touching the pump against the wall of the bowl. Use the filter pump to drink the tea, still hot.

Who should not take

Mate tea is contraindicated for children, pregnant women and people with insomnia, nervousness, anxiety disorders or high blood pressure, due to its high caffeine content.

In addition, because it reduces blood sugar levels, this drink should only be used in diabetics with the knowledge of the doctor, since it may be necessary to adapt the treatment.