Paraguayan drink is considered an excellent tonic that does not cause insomnia. Thanks to the mate phosphorus contained in it, tea has a positive effect on the nervous system, relieves overexcitation, improves memory and normalizes blood pressure. It contains vitamins B1 and C, which strengthen the human immune system. A decoction is also useful for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, because it restores the damaged gastric mucosa and improves digestion, while eliminating spasms. Mate tea helps to overcome stress, increases stamina, improves mood and relieves fatigue. What is mate: tea or drink? South America is considered the homeland of mate tea, from where it came to Europe at the beginning of the 17th century. Then the Spanish conquistadors were struck by how quickly and effectively he treated scurvy. However, on our continent, as a means of quenching thirst, the elixir did not take root. The plant was used only to create balms and cosmetics. Gradually, they completely forgot about it, but in the 21st century, unusual drinking became popular again. What is mate tea? The drink is prepared from young shoots and leaves of the holly tree growing in Paraguay. They are collected on plantations, brought to factories, dried and crushed. It is believed that large leaves give a richer taste. As for the useful properties, they depend on the shelf life and methods of processing the crop. In addition, it is important how exactly the drink will be prepared. Mate tea. Benefits and harm Quite often, mate tea is used for weight loss. It is low-calorie and reduces appetite, while saturating the body with all the necessary trace elements. This decoction helps to cleanse the intestines and normalizes metabolism. Drinking in the morning and in the evening a cup of hot drink, you can cope with excess weight. However, this will be effective only in a set of actions aimed at losing weight. As for contraindications, tonic drinking is not recommended for pregnant women and young children. It is also worth limiting the intake of mate tea to people with high acidity of gastric juice and kidney problems. This drink constricts the vessels of the brain, therefore it is categorically contraindicated for people with atherosclerosis. How to brew mate? Before you learn how to properly brew mate tea, you need to learn the name of the special devices. Yes, for cooking you need a gourd-made calabash and a curved metal bombilla tube. To create a delicious elixir, dry leaves of the plant are poured into a vessel for one quarter of the volume, which are then poured with small portions of cold water. When the mixture is moistened, then you need to give it 3 minutes so that the liquid is completely absorbed, and the tea begins to look like a thick green gruel from mate tea. How to brew it will be clear later after the bombilla is carefully inserted into the calabash. Now you will need to add hot water (70-80 ° C) to the dishes. If you use boiling water, the result will be bitter and lose its beneficial properties. After a couple of minutes, the drink will taste and color resemble green tea with a touch of slight bitterness that adds spice. How to drink mate? They drink Paraguayan tea in small sips, sipping from the very thick at the bottom of the calabash. Knowing how to drink mate, do not forget that you need to do it without sugar. True, sweet lovers can add a couple of tablespoons of honey. If the broth is not drunk at one time, then the remnants are poured out. The fact is that after a couple of hours, substances begin to form in the wet mixture that can cause poisoning of the body.