Between yerba mate, the star drink of Latin America, and matcha, the most famous green tea powder of the Japanese archipelago, your heart sways? We understand! It is often difficult to choose between these two drinks. To help you decide - at least temporarily - which one will take first place in your favourite mug, we have tried to highlight their common points, their benefits and their singularities. So who will be the winner of this match?
Discover our range of organic mate and matcha!
1/ Mate and matcha, two similar words
If the words matcha and mate look alike, starting with the same three letters, it is a linguistic coincidence. Indeed, "matcha" means "ground tea" in Japanese, while "yerba mate" is a derivative of "mati" in Quechua (an indigenous people present in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile and Colombia), which refers to the gourd used to prepare mate. Then, by extension, the term was used for the drink itself.
1/ Mate and matcha, two distinct plants
While we tend to hear "tea" in the word mate, this drink is not. The leaves used to make it come from another plant: yerba mate. Now cultivated in several Latin American countries, this plant grew wild when the Guarani Indians began to drink it several thousand years ago. In contrast, matcha green tea is made from tea leaves. These are crushed between two granite blocks to produce an emerald green powder. It is enjoyed by frothing it in a bowl. What makes matcha different from other green teas is that the leaf is not only infused, but also ingested during the tasting. A delight!
2/ Mate and matcha, a difference in equipment and preparation
One of the common points between these two drinks is that it is difficult to prepare them without certain accessories. For yerba mate, you will need to invest in a gourd, called a "calabash", in which the mate is infused. You will also need a metal tube ("bombilla"), which serves both as a straw and a filter. To prepare matcha tea in the proper way, you will need a circular bowl (called a "chawan" in Japan, and made of porcelain), a traditional bamboo whisk ("chasen") which is used to beat the tea powder to obtain a smooth froth, and finally a small wooden spatula ("chasaku") which allows you to measure out the right amount of matcha.
NB: we strongly recommend that you choose organic products. The designation guarantees better quality and leaves grown in an environmentally friendly way according to the criteria of sustainable and responsible agriculture.
3/ The taste of mate VS the taste of matcha
Both beverages can be classified in the same taste category, that of a vegetal, slightly bitter taste. But this is a generalization, as not all yerba matés and matchas are uniform in taste. Traditional mate is very bitter, while green mate (not refined) is milder, more aromatic. The same is true for matcha, which can be more or less bitter, depending on the quality or concentration. When the balance between vegetality and bitterness is achieved, we speak of an "umami" taste. A Japanese term that designates a long-lasting and sweet aftertaste. Finally, it should be noted that the taste of mate and matcha can be modified by adding water, sugar or milk, for example.
The "classic" matcha recipe:
1- Put a teaspoon of matcha in the bottom of your bowl.
2- In parallel, heat water in a kettle. Do not exceed a temperature of 70 to 80°C as this could damage the matcha leaves or make the drink too bitter.
3- Pour the water gradually into the bowl and whisk the mixture to obtain a smooth, even slightly frothy liquid.
4- Taste! For the latte version, simply add milk.
To learn more about how to prepare matcha tea, click here!
The recipe for "classic" mate:
1- Fill the calabash to ⅔ with the yerba mate leaves. Form a pile at the bottom on the side of the container.
2- Heat water to a temperature of 70-80°C. Water that is too hot will make the drink bitter. It is up to you to decide according to your taste.
3- Gently pour the water into the bombilla on the empty side right next to the yerba mate leaves.
4- Place the bombilla and enjoy! The leaves start to infuse after 30 seconds.
4/ The benefits of mate VS the benefits of matcha
Mate and matcha have in common that they are concentrates of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins, which stimulate natural immunity and slow down the ageing of cells. More specifically, those present in mate are said to help concentration, while lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. Another advantage of mate is that it has an appetite suppressant effect, forcing the body to draw on its reserves. As for matcha, it contains a molecule, theanine, which is reputed to have a beneficial effect on memory and concentration.
Read also: The health benefits of mate and The virtues of matcha for the body.
5/ The stimulating effect of mate VS matcha
Mate and matcha have in common that they are composed of caffeine or theine (as they are the same molecule), which makes them stimulating drinks, providing a little "boost". Unlike coffee, which is a stimulant, and whose effect is stronger, but more limited in time, matcha and mate have an action that lasts longer and more slowly. Matcha remains active in the body for 8 hours. By acting on our cerebral system, theine/caffeine helps to increase alertness and to fight against sleepiness. Less energising than coffee, matcha and mate are on the other hand more stimulating than a classic tea. Do mate and matcha prevent sleep? The answer is "it depends", because the impact of caffeine/theine on sleep depends on the sensitivity of each individual.
Yerba mate and matcha are therefore two plants between which it is often difficult to choose. Taste, preparation, price, origin, their differences are not lacking! But they both have many benefits: rich in antioxidants, boosting effect thanks to caffeine, strengthening the immune system, etc. And why choose? Simply alternate between the 2 to vary the pleasures!
Read also on the same subject:
How to choose a quality matcha?
Matcha or coffee? The great duel!