Yerba Mate

Discover the world's best yerba mate — authentic loose-leaf mate from Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, plus everything you need to brew it the traditional way. PERCUP stocks yerba mate from Kraus, Patagonia Finest Tea, Mate & Co, Yerbánica, Hearth, WHITE Prime, Loch, Hierbas Silvestres, Mate Rojo and more — alongside complete mate starter kits, stainless-steel bombilla straws, insulated thermoses, calabash gourds and accessories. Shipped across the UAE and globally.

Yerba mate is more than a drink — it is a centuries-old South American ritual, a daily companion, and a naturally energising alternative to coffee. The smooth, sustained energy from mate's combination of caffeine, theobromine and theophylline delivers focused alertness without the coffee crash, making yerba mate a favourite of athletes, students, professionals and anyone looking for cleaner energy.

What is yerba mate?

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is a caffeine-containing infusion made from the dried, cured leaves of a South American holly plant. Traditionally drunk from a hollowed calabash gourd through a metal filter straw (bombilla) and shared in a social ritual, mate has been consumed for centuries by indigenous Guarani people and is now the national drink of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. The flavour is grassy, earthy, slightly bitter and uniquely satisfying — similar to green tea but stronger and more savoury.

Yerba mate starter kits

The easiest way to start drinking mate is with a complete starter kit. PERCUP stocks everything you need to begin in one box — mate cup or calabash gourd, stainless-steel bombilla straw, insulated thermos for keeping hot water at the correct 75–80°C drinking temperature, and a starter pack of premium yerba mate. Featured kits include:

  • WHITE Prime Mate Starter Kit — calabash gourd, stainless steel bombilla, traditional preparation
  • Mate System 1.2L Thermos — insulated hot-water bottle with cup, perfect for office or on-the-go
  • Complete Yerba Mate Kit with Yerbero & Car Heater — full traditional setup with two bonus gifts
  • Mate Kit Pro White — premium kit for serious mate drinkers

Loose-leaf yerba mate by brand

  • Kraus Organic Yerba Mate: Argentine organic yerba mate from one of the most respected family producers. Pure leaf, traditional and aged variants. Smooth, balanced, never harsh.
  • Patagonia Finest Tea: Authentic Argentine yerba mate including the classic Traditional, plus flavoured Fruity Infused, Menta Mango Infused, and Mate Chai variants. Approachable for first-time mate drinkers.
  • Yerbánica: Traditional organic yerba mate, pure leaf, naturally cured.
  • Mate & Co: Tea-bag format yerba mate including Assorted, Tropical, Earl Grey Mate and Chai Mate — the easiest entry point for newcomers and travel drinkers.
  • Hearth: Premium curated yerba mate experience.
  • Tuma Tu Mate, Alba Nueva, Mate Rojo, Hierbas Silvestres, Laska Mates: Smaller-batch and artisanal Argentine producers for serious mate enthusiasts.

Mate accessories — bombillas, thermos, gourds

  • Bombilla straws: Traditional stainless-steel filter straws that allow you to drink mate without ingesting the leaves. Spring bombillas, traditional bombillas and travel bombillas available.
  • Calabash gourds and mate cups: The traditional drinking vessel — natural calabash gourds for authentic preparation, plus ceramic and stainless-steel cup alternatives.
  • Thermos and insulated bottles: Keep your hot water at the perfect 75–80°C drinking temperature for hours. Essential for on-the-go mate drinking.
  • Yerbero containers: Airtight storage tins for keeping your loose-leaf yerba mate fresh.

How to drink yerba mate the traditional way

Traditional mate preparation: fill your gourd or mate cup about two-thirds full with dried yerba mate. Tilt the gourd to one side so the yerba forms a mound on one side and a clear space on the other. Pour cool water into the cleared space to moisten the leaves (this preserves the yerba). Insert the bombilla into the moistened side. Then pour hot water (75–80°C, not boiling — boiling water makes the mate bitter) into the bombilla side and drink. Refill multiple times from the same yerba — a single serving can be refilled 10–15 times before the yerba "lavada" (washed out).

Why yerba mate from PERCUP

  • Authentic Argentine sourcing. Real yerba mate from established South American producers, not flavoured tea blends pretending to be mate.
  • Complete category coverage. Loose-leaf, tea bags, starter kits, accessories — every format and every entry point for new and experienced mate drinkers.
  • Organic and traditional options. Pure-leaf organic mate (Kraus, Yerbánica) for the cleanest profile, plus traditional blends with palos (stem) for classic Argentine flavour.
  • Free UAE delivery on orders over AED 200, same-day available in Dubai, global shipping at checkout.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is yerba mate and how does it taste? +

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is a caffeine-containing infusion made from the dried leaves of a South American holly plant, traditionally drunk from a calabash gourd through a metal filter straw called a bombilla. The flavour is grassy, earthy, slightly bitter and uniquely savoury — similar to green tea but stronger and more robust. Flavoured variants (fruity, mint-mango, chai) are milder and more approachable for first-time drinkers. Yerba mate is the national drink of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

Does yerba mate contain caffeine? +

Yes — yerba mate contains caffeine plus two related natural stimulants: theobromine (the compound also found in chocolate) and theophylline (found in tea). The combination delivers a smooth, sustained energy boost lasting 4–6 hours, often described as 'focused alertness without the coffee crash.' A traditional mate serving contains roughly 70–80mg of caffeine — comparable to a cup of regular tea, slightly less than a coffee.

Where can I buy yerba mate online in the UAE? +

You can buy authentic yerba mate online at PERCUP. We stock loose-leaf yerba mate from Kraus (organic), Patagonia Finest Tea, Yerbánica, Hearth, Mate & Co, WHITE Prime, Loch, Tuma Tu Mate and other authentic Argentine producers — plus complete starter kits, stainless-steel bombillas, insulated thermoses and calabash gourds. UAE delivery is 1–3 business days; international shipping available at checkout.

How do I make yerba mate? Traditional preparation method +

Fill a mate gourd or cup about two-thirds full with dried yerba mate. Tilt the gourd to form a mound on one side and a clear space on the other. Pour cool water into the cleared space to moisten the leaves (this preserves the yerba). Insert the bombilla straw into the moistened side. Then pour hot water at 75–80°C (NOT boiling — boiling water makes mate bitter) into the bombilla side and drink. You can refill the same yerba 10–15 times until it tastes 'washed out' (lavada). Each refill is part of the traditional sharing ritual.

What's the difference between yerba mate and green tea? +

Yerba mate and green tea are different plants. Green tea comes from Camellia sinensis; yerba mate comes from Ilex paraguariensis (a South American holly). The flavour is stronger and more savoury than green tea — earthy, grassy, slightly bitter. Yerba mate contains caffeine plus theobromine and theophylline, while green tea contains caffeine plus L-theanine. Both deliver smoother energy than coffee, but yerba mate's combination is generally considered more sustained and 'focused.' Yerba mate is also traditionally drunk from a shared gourd through a bombilla — green tea is usually steeped and drunk from a regular cup.

Do I need a starter kit or can I drink mate from a regular cup? +

You don't strictly need a starter kit — you can drink yerba mate from any cup using a strainer to filter out the leaves. But the traditional gourd-and-bombilla setup is part of what makes mate enjoyable. The bombilla filters the leaves at the bottom of the straw so you can drink directly without straining, and the gourd shape supports the proper 'mountain' technique for refilling. Most newcomers find the experience much more enjoyable with a proper kit. PERCUP stocks complete starter kits from WHITE Prime, Mate & Co and others starting around AED 130.

How much yerba mate caffeine is too much? +

Most healthy adults can safely consume up to 400mg of caffeine per day from all sources. A traditional yerba mate serving (one gourd with multiple refills) contains roughly 70–80mg of caffeine — so 4–5 mate sessions in a day stays within safe limits. Heavy daily consumption (multiple thermoses) can exceed this. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should limit intake to ~200mg total daily caffeine and consult a doctor about yerba mate specifically. The smooth, sustained energy from mate makes overconsumption easier than coffee — pace yourself if you're new.

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