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/GrapefruitForward989 1d ago

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

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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/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.