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- From: nclauson@lynx.dac.neu.edu (Neil Clauson)
- Newsgroups: alt.drugs
- Subject: Yerba Mate: Explanation
- Message-ID: <2gc77p$jm6@lynx.dac.neu.edu>
- Date: 4 Jan 94 16:58:33 GMT
-
- This description of Yerba Mate comes from the Herbal Stimulant Tea
- Sampler, from ..of the Jungle (an excellent rare-botanical supply co.)
-
- Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguayensis)
-
- This traditional Argentine beverage comes from the leaves of
- a bushy South American tree. The thick, shiny leaves are very rich in
- caffeine (to 2%) and vitamins. They have several volatile oils
- present which give the tea part of its distinctive aroma and taste. The
- best quality product comes from a process of fire roasting and curing
- the fresh branches to develop the characterisitc smoky flavor prized by
- mate lovers. In Paraguay and Argentina it is the national beverage,
- comsumed in vast quantities daily. Much of the supply comes from wild
- native trees which are perfectly suting to sustainable harvesting. The
- foraging industry depends on the preservation of intact forest habitat, so
- the protection of South American forests is in part made necessary by a
- strong market demand for such wild collected products. Driking mate helps
- protect the planet's endangered habitats and support simple forest people
- with a right livelihood.
- Yerba Mate is made in South America in a ritualized ceremony using
- a special cup and strar set. These are often highly ornamented utensils
- crafted from pure silver. The straw is flay at the base and fitted with a
- screen wich allows the brew to be strained as it is sipped. A spoonful of
- cushed, dried leaves is placed in the cup and boiling water poured over
- them and left to steep for several minutes. Those of us without the
- traditional apparatus can prepare an equally fine beverage by pouring
- water over the herb in a teapot and straining into cups after steeping.
- The effects are relatively long lasting, inducing a type of mental
- clarity and expansion of though proecessing capabilities. A feeling of
- enhanced memory and accelerated intellect is often experienced, however
- the racy edge of physical and mental stimulation is seldom noted. This
- state is especially suitng to periods of intense study, calculations, and
- cerebral activity requring endurance to maintain continous attention and
- precision focusing.
-
- *******
-
- Well there you go.. The stimulant sampler I mentioned contained
- an ounce each of Kola Nut Powder, Yerba Mate, Cacao Seed Powder, and
- Japanese Unfermented green tea (for only US$10) The description of Yerba
- Mate's effects are accurate. I would drink a cup after dinner (around 6 PM)
- after a hard day of classes, and I'd be -wired- until 1 or 2 AM. Unlike
- drinking coffee or coke, I'd only need the one cup, and I wouldn't have
- the heart pounding, mind racing effects you usually get. Yerba is
- definately a much cleaner, clearer high. (At least for me. I was
- usually programming, doing homework, or writing papers when I drank it,
- so my mind was active anyways..) I also found mate to help during exams,
- because it didn't give me any nervous jitters like you get from drinking
- Jolt.
-
- I can explain the effects of the other teas if asked, or I can
- tell you about the other Of the Jungle products I tried.
-
- Neil Clauson
- nclauson@lynx.northeastern.edu
-
-
-