Yerba Mate vs. Green Tea: What You Need to Know
According to a report provided by the World Green Tea Association, over 600,000 tons of green tea are consumed every year.
Tea is one of the most consumed beverages globally, and with the popularity of yerba mate tea on the rise, this new herbal tea stands a chance of competing with green tea in terms of both consumption rate and benefits.
To help you choose between the two different teas, we’ve provided everything you need to know about the differences between green tea and yerba mate tea in this guide.
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Yerba Mate vs. Green Tea: The Difference
Both green tea and yerba mate tea have natural and healthy benefits that will aid in a healthier body. These teas are considered the best hot-served drinks in the world due to not only their health benefits but also because of their unique flavors and interesting history. While consuming either could prove beneficial to you, the better of the two seems to be the yerba mate, as it has more to offer than green tea does.
Green tea comes from the Camellia sinensis tree, which is predominantly found in Asian countries. The leaves and, oftentimes, buds are harvested to create green tea. The yerba mate tea is procured exclusively from the leaves of the indigenous Ilex Paraguariensis plant, which grows solely in select countries in South America. Let's have a look at both and see the areas in which the teas thrive:
Preparation: It’s a Tie
There is a slight difference in the preparation of these two beverages. While the temperatures meet the same exact requirements, the steeping time varies. For yerba mate, you will need to steep for five minutes, while with green tea, you only need to steep for a maximum of two minutes (or longer, depending on preferences).
However, yerba mate can be steeped multiple times without losing flavor, whereas green tea tends to lose its flavor after two or three re-steeps. The yerba mate has about ten re-steeps before it loses its flavor, so keep this in mind when deciding between the two.
Flavor: Green Tea Wins
Green tea wins when it comes to flavor. Its grassy, herb-like flavor can be tasted no matter how it is prepared. Yerba mate, however, has a more astringent, bitter taste if prepared once its roasted. However, specific preparation methods have also made yerba mate taste sweeter and more herbal, so it will depend on how you prepare it and the type of yerba mate you drink.
Nutrition: Yerba Mate Wins
Yerba mate outshines green tea when it comes down to nutrition. Yerba mate contains a stronger potency of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Not to mention, yerba mate has over 196 active compounds, which outmatches green tea's 144 active compounds.
Just one cup of yerba mate tea contains 15 amino acids, 24 essential vitamins, fatty acids, trace minerals, and more. These are beneficial for sustaining and keeping your body healthy, both inside and outside, regarding your skincare.
Weight Loss: Yerba Mate Wins
This was a close call since both tea variants have been known to have weight-loss benefits. Both contain a high concentration of caffeine and thermogenic properties that help boost metabolism and assist with fat burning.
However, because yerba mate has a slightly higher concentration of caffeine than green tea does, this means that yerba mate is somewhat more beneficial when it comes to weight loss. The higher amount of caffeine boosts fat burning and metabolism, but it has also been found to be a good appetite suppressant that prevents overeating.
Antioxidants: Yerba Mate Wins
Yerba mate also has a higher concentration of antioxidants than green tea. These powerful antioxidants prevent cell damage and oxidative stress in the body. Yerba mate tea also contains chlorogenic acid, which reduces cholesterol, reduces cancer cells, and slows down aging.
Read more: Power of Yerba Mate: Transform Your Skincare Routine
The Wrap-Up on the Differences Between Yerba Mate and Green Tea
The differences between yerba mate and green tea don’t seem too different at first glance, but once you dive in a little deeper, you will find that yerba mate does outshine green tea in most instances—that is, if you can acquire a taste for it. It's also great for your skin health, so look for skincare products containing yerba mate!
