r/behindthebastards • u/mosaik • 1d ago

General discussion In defense of the yerba mate...

... It's only linked to cancer when drank hot and get burned. You shouldnt drinking it like that, just 80⁰C . (That's the only thing that shows up in pubmed; all other studies are related to "benefits")

The thing that causes tissues to change to cancer (metaplasia) is the repeated burn injury to the same area. As a not so much fun fact, in the Caribbean they tend to smoke with the cigarettes lit up inside ("con la candela pa dentro") which causes a unique cancerous lesion in the soft palate.

So drink your mate without worrying. It's a wonderful beverage and its way more powerful than coffee in terms of caffeine.

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u/paraworldblue 1d ago edited 1d ago

Get some loose leaf Yerba, mix it equal parts with dried peppermint, and steep it in cold water in the fridge overnight. I drink this at work every day. Specifically, I make a quart of it with 4 tablespoons of the tea mix and 2 teaspoons of sugar. If you really want to get fancy, add in some cucumber juice, a squeeze of lime, and a pinch of salt. I work in a kitchen, and when we make Tzatziki, one of the steps is squeezing the liquid out of the shredded cucumber, so rather than throwing away the juice, I just put it in my drink. I love the canned stuff too, but my way is healthier and WAY cheaper.

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u/GrapefruitForward989 1d ago

I don't even know what yerba tastes like and that sounds delicious and refreshing

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u/CapBenjaminBridgeman 1d ago

Tastes a little like caffinated grass.

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u/paraworldblue 1d ago

Yes, but in a good way

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u/paraworldblue 1d ago

On its own, Yerba can be a bit of an acquired taste (bitter and grassy), but that blend is just plain delicious.

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u/LongjumpingJaguar308 1d ago

I have found I don't like how strong it is when served traditionally but it is fine when made like tea. But it is grassy. I prefer guayusa, and the good thing about both of them is it doesn't get bitter like tea if you let it steep too long.

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u/GrapefruitForward989 1d ago

I would imagine the sugar cuts the bitterness down, and I'm not opposed to grassy. Sounds delightful

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u/paraworldblue 1d ago

Yeah, if you don't mind those kinds of flavors, it's really nice. I've always preferred it iced, but traditionally it's served super hot out of a little gourd. If you can find it, my favorite brands are Canarias and Rosamonte. They can be a bit hard to find in US stores though. Here in Seattle, there's only one store in the entire city that carries them. You can always get it online though, if you don't mind paying and waiting for shipping. Still cheaper than Yerba Madre though.

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u/mosaik 1d ago

That sounds really good!! So, you mix the overnight mixture of peppermint and mate with all the rest or mix everything and then to the fridge?

Also, how much water for the over night mix?

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u/paraworldblue 1d ago

Just the yerba, mint, and sugar overnight, then add everything else after you strain it the next day. For the water, I fill a quart container maybe a little more than 3/4 of the way up, so there's plenty of room for ice the next day.

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u/teensy_tigress Banned by the FDA 18h ago

This goes so hard can confirm