A look at the social networks shows that mate tea is trendy. Food and fitness influencers hype the appetite-suppressing and metabolism-stimulating effect of the South American brew. But there are also critical voices, the drink is said to be carcinogenic. FITBOOK took a close look at the study situation.
Mate tea has become so popular that it even got its own emoji. This shows the drink in the traditional, bulbous vessel: the so-called calabash with the associated drinking tube called bombilla. The infusion, which comes from South America, became known in this country primarily through lemonade-like mate drinks such as «Club-Mate» or «Mio Mio Mate» and was initially drunk primarily in hacker circles. Subsequently, the drink also enjoyed great popularity among hipsters. In the meantime, fans of fitness and healthy eating have discovered the traditional yerba mate for themselves and swear by its alleged performance-enhancing and therapeutic properties. For example, mate is considered an insider tip among those who want to lose weight. But what exactly is mate and how healthy is the tea made from it really?
What is mate tea?
Mate, also known as Yerba Mate (Spanish), Erva Mate or Chimarrão (Portuguese), is a tea made from the leaves of the mate bush (Ilex paraguariensis). Strictly speaking, mate is not a tea at all, but an infusion drink. This is particularly common in South America, where it is drunk about as often as we drink coffee. Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay are the largest mate producers in the world. The name mate does not actually refer to the drink itself, but in the Quechua language is the name of the drinking vessel in which the tea is served. This is traditionally made from a hollowed out and dried gourd, known as mate or calabaza in Spanish and cuia in Portuguese.
How is mate tea prepared?
A special metal sieve straw, the bombilla, is used for drinking. For the infusion, the gourd is now filled with the mate mixture, called yerba. This is prepared in a certain way, which sometimes follows very strict rules in South America. The yerba is then infused with hot water. The drinking temperature as well as the sweetness of the brew varies depending on the region.
What does mate tea taste like and how do you drink it?
Mate tea is characterized by a slightly tart, bitter taste that can take some getting used to at first. Depending on the variety or flavoring, mate can also have a mild sweetness. This also depends on which parts of the mate bush are used, for example only leaves or also stalks, and whether these are roasted, smoked or processed pure. A mate tea can be re-infused several times in a row. The exact type of preparation and infusion is prescribed and celebrated in South America in the form of numerous traditional rules. Mate tea is therefore particularly suitable for social gatherings and is served to guests, for example.
In our Western cultures, mate tea is valued for two reasons in particular: on the one hand, it wakes you up and is therefore a good alternative to coffee; on the other hand, due to the caffeine it contains, it has an appetite-inhibiting effect, stimulates the metabolism and burns fat. It also helps with weight loss. At the same time, however, there are also critical voices and concerns among Mate fans. According to studies, the drink is said to be carcinogenic. Now what is really true? In our article you will learn everything about South American tea and its health effects.
Is mate tea carcinogenic? study situation
A study from 2008 that classified mate as carcinogenic caused a stir.1 According to the researchers, very high concentrations of carcinogenic (cancer-causing) so-called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH for short) were found in yerba mate leaves and in hot and cold mate infusions ) found. Similar results were found in further investigations. An older study with hospital patients showed that mate consumption was significantly associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer and that the quantity and temperature in particular were decisive.2 Subjects who drank more than a liter of hot mate tea daily had a three-fold increased risk Compared to those who drank less than half a liter of warm mate tea per day. Several recent studies have also reconfirmed the hypothesis of an association between yerba mate and cancer, particularly in relation to esophageal cancer, including a 2010 case-control study and a 2013 meta-analysis3,4
The drinking temperature factor
A review5 published in 2009 analyzed several studies and found that much of the data suggested an association between the temperature of mate infusion and the risk of oral, esophageal and/or larynx cancer. A few studies also pointed to carcinogenic pollutants from the industrial processing of the leaves. The risk increased with daily amount and drinking temperature; moreover, it was generally higher for women.
A clear result was found in the unfavorable interaction between Mate, alcohol and tobacco. Dietary deficits and poor oral hygiene could also negatively affect the cancer risk of mate tea. No increased risk was associated with cold mate drinks. A study by the University of Freiburg showed a significant improvement in fat burning in subjects who drank cold yerba mate, FITBOOK reported.
Beneficial properties of mate tea
All studies point out that the data are not yet sufficient to make definitive statements. Further investigations are needed here. Compared to the possibly carcinogenic effect of mate tea, there are also many indications of the drink’s positive health effects.
An in vitro study by the University of Illinois6 even classified mate as a food that is effective against cancer. The researchers treated human colon cancer cells with certain caffeine components from mate tea called CQA – this is chlorogenic acid, an ester of caffeic acid with a slightly stomach-stressing effect. If the CQA concentration was increased, the cancer cells died. The results of the study suggest that mate tea could prevent colon cancer and other inflammatory diseases as well. A review article7 also found evidence that the drink lowers cholesterol, protects the liver, stimulates the central nervous system, has diuretic properties and is good for the cardiovascular system. In addition, mate is rich in antioxidants, can reduce obesity and inhibit inflammation.
Conclusion
A current study8 from 2020 summarizes the current state of research well: On the one hand, the consumption of mate tea can have a positive effect on human health. On the other hand, it should be borne in mind that large amounts of the infusion – especially if drunk very hot – can possibly increase the risk of cancer. A clear confirmation of this by scientific studies is still missing. Like so many other things, mate tea may just be a healthy dose.
Sources
- 1: Kamangar F, Schantz MM, Abnet CC, Fagundes RB, Dawsey SM. High Levels of Carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mate Drinks. Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention. (2008, accessed on July 2nd, 2021)
- 2. Sewram V, De Stefani E, Brennan P, Boffetta P. Maté consumption and the risk of squamous cell esophageal cancer in uruguay. Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention. (2003, accessed on July 2nd, 2021)
- 3: Szymańska K, Matos E, Hung RJ, Wünsch-Filho V, Eluf-Neto J, Menezes A, Daudt AW, Brennan P, Boffetta P. Drinking of maté and the risk of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract in Latin America: a case control study. Cancer causes & control. (2010, accessed on July 2nd, 2021)
- 4: Andrici J, Eslick GD. Maté consumption and the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis. Disease of the Esophagus. (2013, accessed on July 2nd, 2021)
- 5: Loria D, Barrios E, Zanetti R. Cancer and yerba mate consumption: a review of possible associations. Pan American Journal of Public Health. (2009, accessed on July 2nd, 2021)
- 6: Puangpraphant S, Berhow MA, Vermillion K, Potts G, Gonzalez de Mejia E. Dicaffeoylquinic acids in yerba mate. Molecular nutrition & food research. (2011, accessed on July 2nd, 2021)
- 7: Stern CI, de Mejia EG. Yerba Mate Tea (Ilex paraguariensis): a comprehensive review on chemistry, health implications, and technological considerations. Journal of food science. (2007, accessed on July 2nd, 2021)
- 8: Lutomski P, Goździewska M, Florek-Łuszczki M. Health properties of Yerba Mate. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine. (2020, accessed on July 2nd, 2021)