Mate is a perfect drink for a professional athlete: it boosts the mood, metabolism and immune system by not disrupting the sleep schedule. And it’s easy to make it!
We often see Leo Messi with a cup of mate in his hands – you may think he always drink it while on his way to the games. Many other players like this drink, including Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann and Sergio Aguero.
So, here’s Tribuna.com’s small guide to this famous drink.
What is mate?
Mate is a traditional South American caffein-rich drink made of the dried leaves of the yerba plant. It’s served in a special ‘pot’ made of the calabash gourd – a vine which fruits are used as tableware but they are also edible.
Mate is a national beverage of Argentina and Uruguay so no wonder Messi and Suarez cannot stop drinking it!
Why is mate so popular among footballers?
First of all, mate is used as a stimulant to boost the mood and improve concentration, just like tea and coffee. It doesn’t affect the sleep schedule, though. On the contrary, mate makes sleep even better.
Secondly, mate contains polyphenol antioxidants which makes it a perfect dietary addition for those who stick to healthy diets.
Finally, there are vitamins B and C in this drink which improves one’s metabolism and the immune system.
Some women on the internet preach the virtues of mate during pregnancy. While it’s apparently not proven by science, Leo Messi’s wife Antonella had no issues drinking mate while expecting a child.
How to prepare mate in 4 steps:
It’s as easy to prepare mate as any herbal tea:
- First, you fill a container with the yerba leaves.
- Traditionally, one uses a special pot made of the calabash gourd (although metal, ceramic, and wooden cups will also do), already filled with the yerba leaves. Usually, it’s 50% water and 50% yerba.
- Then, you have to pour hot (but not boiling!) water over them. 70 to 85 °C is the best temperature.
- Next, you can drink it with a straw called ‘bombilla’ – it’s used as a filter so you can drink the liquid, not the leaves
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