Yerba Mate Vs Matcha – Benefits & Differences

January 29, 2023

7 minutes read

Yerba Mate tea and Matcha are both popular green herbal tea beverages that can be used for a variety of reasons. However, there are a few differences between the two that should be considered when choosing one over the other. These are the health benefits and the taste. In this article, we will discuss the differences between yerba mate vs matcha. Keep in mind they are both excellent choices.

Health Benefits

Yerba mate and matcha tea are both very good drinks to drink in order to keep your body healthy and your weight in check. They are both loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. However, yerba mate and matcha green tea have slightly different tastes.

Is Yerba Mate A Tea?

It is a caffeinated drink but it is neither coffee nor tea. Yerba mate comes from different plants, but it is brewed like tea.

Yerba Mate vs Black Tea

Well, this is totally up to you. There are many different flavors of black tea and you can choose the one you like most. Yerba mate gives you energy and is more bitter than matcha drinks, so if you like that taste, then Yerba Mate is for you. It is really up to you whether you like the bitter taste or the taste of black tea.

Yerba Mate

Yerba mate also called ilex paraguariensis is a type of tea that is made from a plant called the holly genus ilex. It contains caffeine and chlorogenic acid, as well as theophylline and theobromine. Theobromine helps improve the body’s energy levels, while theophylline boosts the immune system.

Mate is an ingredient in popular commercial beverages. The plant’s leaves are made into a drink that can be consumed hot or cold. Traditionally, it is served in a gourd. It is usually served with milk, lemon juice, or burnt sugar, but you can also just mix it with cold water.

The leaves of mate are rich in xanthines and other vitamins. Yerba mate has high antioxidant content and contains more antioxidants than matcha. Mate has 15 different amino acids and about 80 mg of caffeine in a cup, which is a pretty large amount of caffeine.

Besides, yerba mate contains small amounts of vitamin C and E. Another antioxidant in mate is theophylline. Despite containing a lot of caffeine, mate has very low calories. For example, a serving of mate contains 34 milligrams of caffeine, whereas a cup of coffee is about 200 mg. This is enough to provide you with a nice energy boost, without causing too much of a crash.

Main Benefits of Yerba Mate

It has been found to improve fat oxidation and reduce appetite.
Theobromine helps improve metabolism.
Xanthines in Mate are stimulants, which help boost energy, focus, alertness and cognitive function.
Antioxidants in Yerba mate is EGCG. This is a potent antioxidant known to lower cholesterol and fight bacteria.
Mate is also very beneficial for the heart. It is a potent antioxidant and has been shown to reduce cholesterol in the blood.
Other properties of mate are believed to help with regulating blood sugar.
Another important ingredient in yerba mate is the high concentration of chlorogenic acid. Chlorogenic acid is also known to lower blood pressure.
Chlorogenic acid is another nutrient in yerba mate. It is known for reducing cholesterol and fighting bacteria.
Yerba Mate may also help protect against certain types of cancer. However, there is still a lot of research to be done on its effects on cancer, especially on the digestive tract.
Yerba mate contains caffeine, which is believed to stimulate the heart and boost alertness.
Mate is also very beneficial for the heart. It is a potent antioxidant and has been shown to reduce cholesterol in the blood. Other properties of mate are believed to help with regulating blood sugar.
Compared to a placebo, Yerba Mate users showed increased energy and focus.
Another study on a group of cyclists found that Yerba Mate boosted fat oxidation by 23%.
Mate was also found to reduce fatigue.
It is also an oxidative stress inhibitor
In a study on overweight individuals, it was observed that Yerba Mate reduced weight by 0.7 kilograms on average.
According to some people, regularly drinking mate may suppress appetite.

Yerba Mate As An Energy Booster

A recent study has shown that Yerba Mate can boost performance during exercise. Researchers tested the effects of drinking a mate beverage before exercising on blood antioxidant status, energy expenditure, and muscle contraction.

Although studies have been conducted on Yerba Mate for its ability to boost metabolism and increase energy, it is not yet clear how much Yerba Mate should be consumed before an exercise session. However, whether it is a healthy drink or not, is subjective. My opinion on it is that too much of anything is not good, especially caffeine, so drink it in moderation.

Side Effects of Yerba Mate

Due to its high caffeine content, Yerba Mate is considered a stimulant.

The caffeine in yerba mate increases blood pressure
Caffeine may also affect the amount of sugar processed in the body. This is one of the reasons why diabetics need to monitor their blood sugar levels closely. Those with high blood pressure should avoid drinking yerba mate.
The caffeine in Yerba Mate can lead to nervousness, restlessness, and general anxiety.
Yerba mate is also associated with an increased risk of bladder and laryngeal cancer. Drinking more than 12 cups a day can cause headaches and agitation.
Its caffeine content can increase the rate of urination, making the person more likely to have frequent bowel movements.
Can cause irregular heartbeats.

Is Matcha a Tea?

Yes, matcha is a unique green tea, prepared differently than regular green tea. Let’s go into this a bit deeper.

Matcha

Matcha is a type of green tea that has high concentrations of catechins. These catechins have been associated with reducing inflammation and improving brain health. Also, matcha is very rich in EGCG, which is considered to be the primary antioxidant in tea. EGCG has been shown to burn fat for energy. Matcha powder has less caffeine than Yerba Mate.

Yerba Mate Vs Matcha: Flavors

Yerba mate and matcha are both great drinks. They can provide you with many health benefits, but the two have different tastes.

If you have ever had a mate or matcha tea, you are probably familiar with the varying flavors. The taste of mate and matcha can vary depending on the preparation method, the quality of the ingredients, and the addition of sweeteners. However, the basic flavor is similar. It has a slightly astringent, bitter, and vegetal taste. Matcha is a type of green tea.

The main difference is that matcha is a fine powder. Matcha can be used as a cooking ingredient or added to recipes for a unique flavor. Depending on the amount and quality of the ingredients, it can be a bit more bitter.

For better taste, if you have the option, opt for high-quality matcha for better taste. But you can make a great cup of matcha by using a bamboo whisk and whisking it with a little water to make a paste. Matcha has a slightly more bitter taste.

When it comes to taste, yerba mate can be more versatile. You can prepare mate in a coffee machine or by pouring hot water over a mate loose leaf and steeping it for a few minutes. Mate can also be prepared using dried leaves.

Yerba Mate Vs Matcha: Taste

Matcha lattes and yerba mate can both serve as energy drinks and can be very similar in taste, however, there are some significant differences. They both require an acquired taste. Although both drinks are natural, they offer a unique experience for their consumers.

Matcha is made by grinding green tea leaves into a fine powder. The leaves are then infused with hot water for a few minutes. Depending on the concentration of the leaves, the tea may be bitter. It also takes time to make.

Yerba mate is a popular drink in South American Countries. However, its benefits are less well-known in other countries. Like other herbal teas, they can be brewed in different ways. A typical brew involves the infusion of dried mate leaves in a hollow gourd. Unlike matcha, mate is not ground into a powder.

While mate has some health benefits, it does not have the same antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as matcha. Moreover, it does not contain the amino acid L-theanine. Similarly, it does not contain catechins, which are considered to be very beneficial for the immune system and brain. EGCG, a type of catechin, has been found to be very effective in weight loss and preventing cancer.

Matcha Ceremony

In Japan, a matcha ceremony (ceremonial grade matcha, which is the highest quality matcha available) is held where participants share a bowl of thick matcha tea. Traditionally, the tea is served with a metal straw, the bombilla straw. This straw has a built-in filter.

Yerba Mate Vs Matcha: Steeping time

Mate is traditionally prepared with the use of a hollow gourd. You can also use a coffee press. Regardless of how you make it, mate has an earthy, vegetal, grassy flavor.

You can get matcha in tea bags, but the powder form is more potent than the tea bags, which mostly contain green tea.

While a cup of mate can be as quick as a cup of coffee, a matcha bowl takes more time to prepare. However, when you do brew it, you’re drinking a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Both yerba mate and matcha are natural drinks that are easy to make.

Yerba Mate Vs Matcha: Final Thoughts

I believe this would depend on what are the main reasons you want to drink them. Is it to prevent heart disease, or give you more energy and boost or want more mental clarity? Many people wonder whether matcha vs mate is better, but in the end, it is up to your goals, time, and taste. It is possibly best to try them both separately and see which one you like better. They are both excellent choices with slightly similar benefits.