Over the last few years, I’ve become a little addicted to my morning tonic ritual.  It’s a little like a moving meditation where I take a few minutes and focus on the steps of brewing my tea, adding in whatever powders I crave and slowly sip my warm concoction.  I think you know I don’t drink coffee, but instead tea is my morning brew.  Lately, as I have become more familiar with adaptogens, collagen and other “boosts” as I call them, I’ve had fun experimenting with combining them with tea.

Argentine yerba mate is a favorite tea that I consume regularly for its health benefits as much as the robust flavor and balanced energy boost it provides me in the morning.  Originated and grown in Argentina from the yerba mate tree, this tea is chock-full of powerful antioxidants (shown to be even higher than green tea) and nutrients such as vitamins B and C, zinc, potassium and manganese. Yerba mate has been found to be ‘hepatoprotective’ which translates to: ‘protecting your liver cells’ and can help in weight loss. I also love that it provides as much energy as a cup of coffee but isn’t as harsh on your stomach. The traditional way to consume it is to prepare it in a traditional Argentinian gourd and drink through a straw, but I always drink it out of a mug.

The energy I derive from yerba mate is one that I don’t rely on, however, unlike the caffeine in coffee for so many people. If I skip my tea, I can still function, although I might be a little disappointed to miss out on the quiet process of making my tonic and the soothing warmth which comes out of my mug. One of my recent favorite concoctions is this yerba mate blend with cacao powder and mint extract.  That’s my base – it’s kind of like a peppermint hot chocolate but with tea instead of water or milk.  Then I start adding whatever I need at the moment – often I add collagen for protein and a gut boost, or maca for hormone support, for example.  I like many of the adaptogens for their calming nature – a great balance to the energy in yerba mate.  See my blogpost on Adaptogens 101 if you’re interested in learning more.

I thought a mint chocolate yerba mate latte would be a perfect morning treat this time of year.  It also feels a little indulgent, but it is perfectly healthful.  I try very hard to start every day right, but especially during the holidays so I am not tempted to throw in the towel every time I see a Christmas cookie!

I have settled on Argentinian yerba mate as the best quality and flavor.   Some brands to look for are Rosamonte and CBSe. Are you Team Coffee or Team Tea?  Have you tried yerba mate yet? What do you think?

As always, I love when you make any of my recipes and it is the biggest thrill for me to see them out there.  So tag me @pamelasalzman #pamelasalzman so I can check them out!

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