While yerba mate tea has been around for centuries, it has recently captured worldwide interest for its health benefits. The tea has long been popular in Latin and South America, including in Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, and parts of Brazil.

Heck CI, de Mejia EG. Yerba mate tea (Ilex paraguariensis): a comprehensive review on chemistry, health implications, and technological considerations. J Food Science. 2007;72(9):R138-R151.

Oranuba E, Deng H, Peng J, Dawsey SM, Kamangar F. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as a potential source of carcinogenicity of mate. J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2019;37(1):26-41

 

Yerba mate tea is made by steeping dried, crushed leaves of the yerba mate plant, a type of evergreen tree, in hot water. The leaves can be resoaked up to seven times without losing their nutritional value, making it a common substitute for coffee. Nowadays, prepackaged bottles of cold yerba mate tea can be readily found at grocery stores.

Oranuba E, Deng H, Peng J, Dawsey SM, Kamangar F. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as a potential source of carcinogenicity of mate. J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2019;37(1):26-41

 

“For people who enjoy a caffeinated beverage, [yerba mate tea] is stimulating, with less of a ‘crash’ than coffee may cause. It contains a number of nutrients, including essential fatty acids, and, like other teas, is rich in antioxidants,” Katie Stage, ND, RH (AGH), FABN, a naturopathic physician, registered herbalist, and Director of Therapeutics Division at Sonoran University, tells MDLinx. 

 

Yerba mate tea promotes brain, heart, and gut health

 

Yerba mate tea has been marketed as a health drink. It’s packed with vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, vitamins B1, B2, B6, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and trace iron, and essential fatty acids, says Stage.

Oranuba E, Deng H, Peng J, Dawsey SM, Kamangar F. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as a potential source of carcinogenicity of mate. J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2019;37(1):26-41

Lutomski P, Goździewska M, Florek-Łuszczki M. Health properties of yerba mate. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2020;27(2):310-313.

 

Reports have shown that yerba mate is used as a medicine for anxiety and fatigue, supporting metabolism and stimulation of the nervous system. The plant is also known for its antioxidants, like polyphenols and terpenes, which have positive cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory effects. These antioxidants “help to promote health by fighting free radicals, decreasing inflammation [and] cholesterol, increasing energy, and reducing the risk of disease,” says Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, Founder and Director of Real Nutrition NYC.

Lutomski P, Goździewska M, Florek-Łuszczki M. Health properties of yerba mate. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2020;27(2):310-313.

Gawron-Gzella A, Chanaj-Kaczmarek J, Cielecka-Piontek J. Yerba mate—a long but current history. Nutrients. 2021;13(11):3706.

 

 

It’s safe to drink—in small doses

 

Yerba mate tea is heavily caffeinated. “One cup of tea does contain a comparable amount of caffeine to one cup of coffee—more caffeine than a typical cup of black or green tea,” says Stage. For reference, 200 milliliters of yerba mate tea, or about one cup, contains about 71.8 milligrams of caffeine, while the same amount of cappuccino coffee contains approximately 86.8 mg of caffeine. According to Shapiro, most healthy adults can consume yerba mate tea with no health risks.

Lutomski P, Goździewska M, Florek-Łuszczki M. Health properties of yerba mate. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2020;27(2):310-313.

 

Yerba mate does contain small amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can cause toxicity in high doses. The most common routes of human exposure to PAH include smoke (from tobacco, for example), environmental contamination, and exposure to chemicals in the workplace. Diet is also a major source of PAH exposure: Certain foods may be contaminated with the compounds, either from the environment or from certain processing methods.

Patel AB, Shaikh S, Jain KR, Desai C, Madamwar D. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: sources, toxicity, and remediation approaches. Front Microbiol. 2020;11:562813.

Menoni C, Donangelo CM, Rufo C. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) infusions and probabilistic risk assessment of exposure. Toxicol Rep. 2021;8:324-330.

 

Yerba mate tea, best known for its high caffeine content and health benefits, is also believed to carry a risk of PAH exposure. Studies have investigated the levels of PAHs in mate leaves, but the data is mixed. Some researchers say that although the leaves have high amounts of PAHs, mate infusions contain low amounts of PAHs; however, repeated soaking of the leaves could increase the amount of PAHs a person is exposed to.

Menoni C, Donangelo CM, Rufo C. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) infusions and probabilistic risk assessment of exposure. Toxicol Rep. 2021;8:324-330.

Kamangar, F., Schantz, M. M., Abnet, C. C., Fagundes, R. B., & Dawsey, S. M. (2008, May 15). High levels of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mate drinks. American Association for Cancer Research.

 

 

Other studies have linked the tea to various types of cancer, such as those of the esophagus, bladder, and lungs. That said, evidence suggests that it’s unclear how much mate may contribute to cancer or if the association may also be explained by other lifestyle behaviors that go hand-in-hand with drinking mate tea, such as smoking cigarettes. “It is important to note that yerba mate also contains many compounds that fight cancers, so this may not be as alarming as it sounds,” says Shapiro.

Oranuba E, Deng H, Peng J, Dawsey SM, Kamangar F. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as a potential source of carcinogenicity of mate. J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2019;37(1):26-41

 

 

 

How to drink Yerba mate tea safely

 

A cup of yerba mate tea here and there likely won’t do you any harm. “An occasional cup of tea made from fresh leaves does not confer any more PAHs than a typical diet,” Stage says.

High doses of hot tea are believed to increase the risk of PAH exposure, Stage notes, as hot beverages can irritate the esophagus and promote the extraction of PAHs. “Drinking the tea warm or cool—instead of hot—would further decrease the risk,” Stage says. The best way to drink yerba mate tea is in cold brew form, experts say. This maximizes the essential fatty acids you’ll consume and minimizes the risks of PAH exposure, according to Stage.

Lutomski P, Goździewska M, Florek-Łuszczki M. Health properties of yerba mate. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2020;27(2):310-313.

 

 

Due to yerba mate tea’s potential risks, it’s not recommended for pregnant people, as it may increase the risk of miscarriage and low birth weight of the baby. It’s also not advised for people sensitive to caffeine and those taking monoamine oxidase inhibitor medications, as it can lead to harmful interactions, says Shapiro.

Lutomski P, Goździewska M, Florek-Łuszczki M. Health properties of yerba mate. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2020;27(2):310-313.

An option if other antidepressants haven’t helped. Mayo Clinic.

 

As with many things, in moderation, yerba mate tea can be beneficial; in excess, however, it may lead to unwanted side effects and potentially increase the risk of cancer. In general, the benefits far outweigh the risks: “It is minimally processed, it is an easy way to increase your intake of antioxidants, it contains less caffeine than coffee, and it can help you to perform, be more energetic, delay cognitive decline, and decrease the risk of a variety of healthy conditions,” Shapiro says.