Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Traditional festivals - Matei Tea - The Drink Known as the "South American Cactus"

Matei Tea - The Drink Known as the "South American Cactus"

What is Matei Tea?

Matei tea is a perennial woody plant similar to the holly family large-leaved holly, Matei trees are generally 3-6 meters high, wild up to 20 meters, green leaves, oval, snow-white flowers between the branches and leaves, growing in South America.

Americans on the treatment of this leaf is similar to the Chinese tea, so in China this unique American leaves called "Madaicha".

Matea comes from the Quetzalcoa word "mati", meaning "gourd". The Spanish colonizers called this tea "maté" and the locals called it "caiguá", which means "something related to Paraguayan tea".

Matei tea also has other names, such as "Jesuit tea", "tea from Paraguay", and "missionary tea".

What are the benefits of Mate Tea?

First, Matei tea can kill colon cancer cells

A 2011 scientific study found that Matei tea leaves have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. The study showed that caffeoylquinic acid derivatives from Matei tea successfully treated human colon cancer.

Scientists have found that in vitro cancer cells die when exposed to bioactive compounds present in a cup of beverage. As the scientists increased the concentration of CQA, the cancer cells died due to apoptosis.

Second, mate tea stimulates the immune system

In addition to polyphenols, mate tea leaves also contain saponins. Saponins are phytochemicals, or a class of compounds that occur naturally in various plant species. Saponins are beneficial for blood cholesterol levels, cancer, and bone health.

They have also been found to specifically stimulate the immune system and help the body fight off disease. They also have significant anti-inflammatory properties.

Third, mate tea can increase daily nutritional intake

Mate tea contains more health-promoting compounds such as carotenoids, fatty acids, chlorophyll, flavonols, polyphenols, inositol, trace minerals, antioxidants, tannins, and at least 15 amino acids.

It seems hard to believe that you're getting all of these nutrients from one little cup, but it's true! Not many beverages can boast such a lengthy lineup of health-promoting power numbers.

Four: Matei Tea Lowers Cholesterol Levels

Studies have shown that drinking Matei tea naturally improves serum lipid levels, which in turn lowers cholesterol levels. A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed that in healthy dyslipidemic subjects, consumption of maté tea led to a reduction in LDL cholesterol.

LDL cholesterol is reduced in patients treated with statins. By reducing bad cholesterol, it may also help reduce the risk of various cardiovascular diseases.

What are the legends of maté tea?

Matei tea has been commonly consumed in southern South America since prehistoric times. The Guarani, an Indian tribe, drank the pulp of wild maté leaves and introduced maté tea to the Spanish colonizers.

The latter realized the benefits of maté tea and quickly embraced the drink and its method of consumption. However, the colonizers were unable to grow maté because the seeds could not germinate outside of the jungle.

It was not until the 17th century that the secret was solved by a French naturalist. After his death, the secret was once again dusted off. It wasn't until the early 1800s that the earliest maté trees began to be planted in Argentina.

Legend of Matei Tea

Once upon a time, one day, the two gods of the sun and the moon were walking in the jungle, and suddenly, a jaguar pounced on them, and at the time of the crisis, a Native American Indian named Aba, heroically pulled up his bow and arrow and shot the leopard, saving the two gods.

Not long after a night, the two gods came together to Aba's bedside, in order to thank him for saving his life, but also admire his courage, presented Aba with a mysterious gift - a plant, and declared that it can bring unlimited vitality, health and longevity, which is the maté tea.

The Legend of Matei Tea II

In an ancient time that cannot be traced back, Tupa, the patron saint of the local Indian tribes, wanted to give the tribes a precious gift, and so Tupa descended into the rainforest to meet with Shume, the oldest and wisest of the tribes' shamans, and taught him how to pick, roast, grind and drink Matei Tea, Shume, the tribe's oldest and wisest shaman, to teach him how to pick, roast, grind, and drink maté tea.

Tupa said, "From now on, my people will have health and happiness from this divine drink, which will nourish the body and mind even in the loneliest, darkest, hungriest, and saddest of times!

Then Tupa, the daemon, returned to heaven. Shume, the shaman, immediately followed the instructions of the patron saint and instructed his people to drink Matei Tea. Soon after, the people found a strange effect, and everyone was as young and energetic as a jaguar. So, this magical plant was called "KAA", which means "herbal medicine".

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