Mate leaves are mainly taken in the form of tea (as a monodrug, green or roasted, in filter bags or as instant tea). The drug is also included in various tea blends of the group “fasting tea”, “cardiovascular tea” or “bladder and kidney tea”.
Other dosage forms
There are currently no herbal medicines containing extracts of the plant. However, the drug powder can be taken in other forms of preparation.
Mate: the right dose
The average daily dose is 3 g of the drug, unless otherwise prescribed.
Mate – preparation as a tea
To prepare a mate tea, about 1 heaping teaspoon of the cut leaves (1 teaspoon equals about 2 g) is poured over hot water and strained after 5-10 minutes.
As in the case of black tea, the stimulating effect of freshly prepared mate tea is stronger and the taste is more pleasant than in the case of the drink that has already been standing for a longer period of time. This is due to the fact that caffeine goes into solution faster than the astringent tannins.
When should you not use mate?
Mate should not be taken during pregnancy, or only in small amounts. Caffeine also passes into breast milk and can therefore cause sleep disturbances in the newborn.
Children under the age of 14 should also not drink mate tea. Mate leaves should not be taken in higher doses or over a long period of time.
The leaves should be stored in a dry place away from light.
