Origin and history

Ilex paraguariensis Saint Hilare is a member of the family Aquifoliaceae native to Paraguay in subtropical South America. Its popularity now is increasing in the United States because of demand by consumers for healthier foods. The tree has been used since immemorial time by the Guarani people, who collected the leaves of the plant growing wild in the jungle and took them as an infusion called Yerba mate. Yerba Mate tea is a very popular beverage in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, becoming more popular than coffee. Traditionally, yerba mate has been used as a stimulant for mental and physical fatigue due to the presence of caffeine.

The infusion has a slightly bitter taste due to tannins, which can be an advantage to combine with other extracts to make very delicious drinks. On the other hand, due to its caffeine content, Yerba Mate is traditionally used in the manufacturing of stimulating beverages.

The aqueous infusions of the Yerba mate leaves contain a variety of bioactive compounds including purine alkaloids, phenolic compounds, saponins, ursolic acid, trigonelline, choline, sterols, amino acids, sugars, small amounts of vitamins (especially ascorbic acid, B1, B2, nicotinic acid and β-carotene), and minerals of recognized protective health effects.

Yerba Mate has significant antioxidant and anti-inflammation properties demonstrated in numerous studies. In addition, it has potential antimicrobial and anti-diabetic effects.

Furthermore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers Yerba Mate a safe yerba plant in safe food list GRAS (Generally Recognised As Safe).

Yerba Mate Powder is a new presentation allows creative combinations for the preparation of a variety of innovative beverage, Super Food, desserts, exotic ice cream. Also, Yerba Mate Powder gives a special flavor combinations with fruits. Yerba Mate Powder can be consumed cold or hot with milk and honey or iced with lemon, ginger or mint, the combinations are limitless.

Now, The Green Labs LLC TGL is pleased to offer several Yerba Mate presentations from Ilex paraguariensis Saint Hilare totally cultivated and manufactured in our Brazilian industrial plant.

• Yerba Mate Powder
• Yerba Mate 5:1
•  Yerba Mate 8% Caffeine
• Yerba Mate Cut Leaves

References

• Bracesco N, Sanchez AG, Contreras V, Menini T, Gugliucci A. Recent advances on Ilex paraguariensis research: minireview. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Jul 14;136(3):378-84.

• Bravo L et al. Hypocholesterolaemic and antioxidant effects of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) in high-cholesterol fed rats. Fitoterapia. 2013 Nov 27. pii: S0367-326X(13)00302-X

• Bojić M, et al. Determination of Flavonoids, Phenolic Acids, and Xanthines in Mate Tea (Ilex paraguariensis St.-Hil.). J Anal Methods Chem. 2013;2013:658596.

Botanical Name: Organic Yerba Mate Powder

Ref Number: TGLOYMP

Tested by: QC