History and Tradition of La Merced Yerba Mate Brand from Argentina

The History and Tradition of La Merced Yerba Mate

Yerba mate is a traditional South American caffeine-rich infused drink that has been consumed for centuries by indigenous tribes and immigrants in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil and Bolivia. The yerba mate plant, Ilex paraguariensis, is a species of holly native to these regions and the leaves and twigs are dried, aged, roasted and ground to make the infused tea beverage.

Of the many yerba mate brands available today, La Merced stands out as one of the oldest and most popular. Based in Argentina, the company has over 200 years of history and has become symbolic of the yerba mate tradition.

The Origins of La Merced Yerba Mate

The La Merced brand was founded in 1840 by Don Ramon Ferreira in the town of Campana, Buenos Aires, Argentina near the Parana River. Ferreira created a yerba mate production and processing facility to mill dry leaves and twigs from the surrounding hillsides.

The company was named after the nearby city of Merced and the Virgin de la Merced church. Using a traditional wood burning roastery, Ferreira produced smoked yerba mate for the growing local markets. In the following decades, La Merced expanded across Argentina and became one of the leading yerba mate producers.

Commercial Growth in the 1900s

In the early 20th century, La Merced began using modern production methods, increasing output, efficiency and quality control. New roasting machines were developed to carefully control temperature and roasting times.

Stainless steel mills finely ground the yerba mate to a desired texture and consistency. These updates allowed La Merced to become a commercial yerba mate producer for the mass consumer markets in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

La Merced created tins and packaging to deliver pre-packaged roasted yerba mate nationwide. With rail and transportation networks spreading across South America, this further expanded the reach and sales.

La Merced as an Argentine Tradition

As one of the oldest and most recognizable yerba mate brands in Argentina, La Merced has become part of the cultural tradition. Images of their classic packaging and logos are associated with the sharing of mate.

Drinking mate is a social pastime in Argentina enabling quality time with friends and family. The tradition of sipping mate from a gourd and passing around the bombilla straw has been part of daily life for generations.

La Merced yerba mate is also commonly consumed with traditional foods like facturas pastries, sandwiches, or medialunas croissants at cafes and restaurants.

The Yerba Mate Production Process

La Merced utilizes a meticulous production process to select, dry, roast and mill the yerba mate tea. This careful attention to detail and quality has made it a leading global brand.

Harvesting the Yerba Mate Leaves

The yerba mate shrubs are pruned and the leaves and tender twigs are harvested by hand. The best leaves are picked between May to August when the plants are flush with new growth.

Only younger, tender leaves and shoots are picked as these have higher caffeine levels and make for a better mate flavor. The leaves are kept intact to help retain the nutrients and compounds that will infuse into the tea.

Drying and Aging

The freshly harvested yerba mate leaves are carefully dried to remove moisture content without sacrificing flavor. They are dried slowly under shade which allows the leaves to cure and develop concentrated, robust flavors.

The dried leaves are then aged for a period of up to one year in burlap sacks. This aging and fermentation allows unique flavors to emerge through a slow oxidation process before further processing.

Roasting the Mate

The dried aged yerba mate leaves are then roasted to fully develop the flavor. La Merced uses a traditional wood fire oven to lightly smoke and roast the leaves using specific temperatures and times.

This artisanal roasting imparts smoky, toasted flavors and also helps any remaining moisture evaporate. The mate leaves will transform from green to an earthy brown color through roasting.

Milling and Packaging

After roasting, the leaves are milled to break them down to a fine texture with some remaining powdery dust and stems. This milling can be adjusted to control the texture and powder content as desired.

The finished yerba mate is then packaged into bags, canisters and tins. La Merced produces both pure leaf yerba as well as blends with herbs like mint or chamomile for different flavor experiences.

Brewing La Merced Yerba Mate Tea

Brewing a proper cup of La Merced yerba mate takes some technique. Follow these steps to prepare traditional mate like they enjoy in South America.

Fill the Mate Gourd

Fill the mate cup or gourd about three quarters full with La Merced yerba. Shake the gourd to allow the yerba to settle with the stems and dust towards the edges.

This creates a slope on one side where you can insert the straw. The hollow interior will become the water chamber for brewing.

Pre-Wet the Yerba

Wet the top of the yerba mate by pouring a small amount of cool water over the mate. This helps prevent the loose powder from filtering up into the water. Allow it to absorb briefly.

Add Hot Water

Bring water to a boil then let it cool slightly to about 180F. Carefully pour the hot water along the slope you created to immerse about half the yerba mate. This will steep and extract oils, caffeine and flavors.

Drink the Yerba Mate

Insert a bombilla metal straw and sip the infused mate drink from the gourd. The bombilla strainer will filter out the leaf particles as you drink it. Enjoy the earthy, robust yerba mate tea.

Refill and Share

When you finish the first mate, add more hot water to re-steep the yerba leaves. You can often refill the gourd many times before replacing the yerba. Share the mate gourd with friends.

The Nutrition and Benefits of La Merced Yerba Mate

Drinking La Merced yerba mate provides a range of health benefits from natural compounds and antioxidants in the tea leaves.

Caffeine and Energy

Yerba mate contains caffeine that provides an energy boost and increased focus. The mate tea has a balanced energy lift without excessive jitteriness from caffeine.

Vitamins and Minerals

La Merced yerba mate delivers important vitamins like C, B1, B2 niacin and minerals like manganese, potassium and zinc. It has a nutritious vitamin and antioxidant profile.

Polyphenols and Antioxidants

Polyphenols and saponins found in yerba mate have antioxidant effects that can help reduce inflammation and protect cells from damage by free radicals.

Digestive Health

Compounds in yerba mate like caffeine and chlorogenic acids may improve digestion by stimulating bile production and intestinal mobility.

Drinking La Merced can be part of an overall healthy lifestyle. The unique tradition and delicious flavor profile have made it popular worldwide.

FAQs

What is yerba mate?

Yerba mate is a tea made from the leaves and twigs of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. It is a popular caffeinated beverage in countries like Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil.

How is yerba mate consumed?

Yerba mate is traditionally poured into a gourd or cup and sipped through a metal straw with a strainer called a bombilla. It can also be prepared like conventional tea using tea bags.

What are the benefits of yerba mate?

Yerba mate contains caffeine for an energy boost. It also has antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Some research shows it may aid weight loss, improve heart health and have anti-diabetic effects.

Does yerba mate contain caffeine?

Yes, yerba mate contains caffeine comparable to coffee or tea. The caffeine content can range from less than 1% up to 2% of dry weight depending on the plant and brewing method.

Is yerba mate safe to drink daily?

For most healthy adults, drinking moderate amounts of yerba mate tea is considered safe. Pregnant women should limit caffeine intake from all sources including yerba mate.