Today I planted Ilex paraguariensis aka yerba mate which is a tree from South America that can grow to about 40 feet. The dried leaves are soaked in hot water to create a caffeine-rich infused drink. There is about 1.7% caffeine in it’s dry weight compared to 3.2% in ground coffee. It even contains theobromine which is found in cacao, and also contains a variety of polyphenols such as quercitin and rutin… with many other health benefits!
Mate was first consumed by the indigenous Guarani who live in now what is Paraguay. The tea is usually served in a vessel with a metal straw that can filter out the bits and chunks. It is considered a social drink where friends and family pass the mate around for sipping any time of the day and constantly rebrewing. There is an old legend that the goddesses of the moon and cloud descended from the heavens and was confronted by a jaguar but an old man saved them from being attacked. As a gift they gave him the yerba mate plant , a plant which symbolizes friendship.
Originally posted on 2021-08-19, part of the daily planting journal behind Ha’a Chocolate’s food forest on Hawai’i Island.