Yerba mate plantations are set up in the middle of virgin subtropical forests and crops are harvested by hand which guarantees a careful selection of leaves and buds. Yerba mate is produced only from plants cultivated by traditional methods without use of chemical substances. The fully automated processes of cutting and packaging guarantee the high quality of the end product. Each year about 300 thousand tons are produced. Today millions of people worldwide drink yerba mate.

Yerba mate reaches a wide circle of consumers - all age groups from children to elderly persons. Among people drinking yerba mate are both the healthy and ill, young and old, working and unemployed, city-dwellers and villagers, as well as the poor and the rich.

The effect of yerba mate is so universal and beneficial that even such obstacles as poverty cannot prevent one from drinking yerba mate. The average price of 100gr (PLN 7-10) of yerba mate lets people who can't afford expensive medicines improve their mood and health. 100gr of the herb is enough to prepare about ten drinks (and every time it can be infused up to 3 times without losing its unique taste and aroma as well as properties), which gives around thirty half-litre cups of yerba mate which together gives 15 litres of the drink (ten 1,5-litre bottles). That is a lot when you consider health benefits offered by yerba mate.

Pregnant women can drink yerba mate as long as they observe the rule: everything in moderation. The abundance of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B11 or folic acid makes yerba mate infusion a very valuable source of nutrients for pregnant women.

It's important to remember that daily dose should be around three tablespoons. Pregnant women in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil drink great amounts of yerba, however as Poland is a different environment and the plant is not indigenous for this area, it is necessary to first make the body used to the effects of yerba mate. That's why you should start with small amounts and in time you can increase it to suit your tastes and reactions of your body to bigger amounts. You should not be afraid of taking in small doses (about 3 spoons) as such amount can't do you any harm. A professional consultation with a doctor from Argentina let establish the right initial dose. It is safe for Polish children to drink yerba mate. It is especially beneficial in autumn and winter when immunity system needs to be strengthened. Children under six can drink yerba mate as long as one rule is observed - three tablespoons once a day before 5 p.m. or two tablespoons twice a day but not after 5 p.m. In the case of children aged one to three or four years old you should be careful as their sleeping pattern might be affected moving their sleeping time around 2-4 hours forward. When a child is given yerba infusion at 6 p.m., instead of going to sleep at 8 p.m. he might not fall asleep until 10 pm. It is important to remember that the body of a six-year-old child might tolerate mateine very well, however, it is necessary to give yerba mate to Polish children with due discretion as in Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, and Uruguay children are used to drinking yerba from a very young age. Children over six can drink 2.5-3 tablespoons of yerba a day after a morning and evening meal.

Regular drinking of yerba mate by children results in proper metabolism and removal of toxins. It has a soothing effect on the nervous system and relaxes muscular system.

Regular drinking of yerba mate during the periods of high pollen count alleviates allergy symptoms. It also acts as a diet supplement providing you with vitamins and minerals in which it is rich.

Secondary school children may drink yerba mate daily, optimally 3-5 tablespoons twice a day, depending on one's gustatory preferences. During the period of intense psychosomatic development yerba mate replenishes the vitamin and mineral deficiencies and during the period of increased upper respiratory tract disease rate the infusion of Paraguayan holly might constitute an effective barrier preventing infections.

In the period of a hormonal blizzard yerba mate might be helpful supporting the natural processes of restoring emotional balance. Yerba mate infusion can also be used in fighting off pollen allergies especially ones caused by grass pollen as well as other allergens. Secondary school youth seek peer acceptance. A mate filled up with yerba infusion might help a young individual to integrate with the group. Drinking yerba together through a bombilla by a bonfire during summer holidays or after school, at home or outside - the possibilities are many but the purpose is one - shared healthy fun. The current trend towards an ecological lifestyle and food encourages young people to sample healthy dishes and beverages thanks to which one can experience the beneficial effects of natural nutrients. In the South as well as North America children meet after school in their free time in order to talk and have fun together. Yerba mate is an inseparable part of their get-togethers. Young people prefer two different ways of communal enjoying of yerba mate: from one mate cup and with one bombilla or from many cups and one's own bombilla.

This is a special rite which is entering into European countries, including Poland. Young people like to stand out - when it comes to yerba, you can surprise others with an original, beautiful vessel and a bombilla and use the occasion to share the information on the beneficial effect of yerba on human body.

Students are a specific group of people sharing the same goal - to pass all exams and at the same time be able to have fun. Unfortunately, just before exams it often turns out that there is little time left to learn the extensive scope of material. In such situations students often resort to very strong coffee or tea. These stimulants, even though are effective, strain the nervous system as well as the heart, plus are addictive if drunk regularly. Some people can't drink coffee or strong tea as they experience unpleasant palpitations and irritation. In order to strengthen your nervous system, clear up the mind during night study marathons, nourish the body and feel a pleasant muscle relaxation you should drink 5 heaped tablespoons of yerba mate two or three times a day. In an emergency, when you haven't drunk yerba and need instant concentration and invigoration that would last several hours you should prepare an infusion with 8-10 tablespoons of yerba mate and drink it slowly, with small gulps for 10-20 minutes. The effectiveness of yerba has been proved by millions of students worldwide who drink it during their examination sessions.

Lack of appetite and willingness to eat is another problem experienced by students and is caused either by money shortages or forgetfulness. Yerba mate allows one to go without eating for a long time without actually feeling the hunger. Back in the pre-Columbian times its properties were used by Indians during river and forest crossings which lasted many weeks. They were always equipped with a small mate and a bombilla as well as plenty of yerba mate leaves. As far as slimming programmes are concerned, yerba mate has a cleansing effect on the body and it reduces fat tissue at the same time boosting metabolism.

The consumer group of yerba mate worldwide is very large, which is proved, among other things, by the existence of a large number of websites on which students drinking this Paraguayan tea post photos of themselves during intensive preparations for their exams.

Intellectual workers are a special yerba mate customer group. Usually these people are very busy and have little time for a rest. They need high intellectual efficiency but there are many different ways of trying to make body and mind work properly which often are unreliable. Unhealthy habits including drinking coffee and strong tea as well as eating fatty foods and too much sugar let us claim that these people need to take special care with their health. Yerba mate is very healthy as far as such a lifestyle is considered, mostly thanks to:

• Content of vitamins and minerals
• Stimulating effect on nervous system and muscle relaxing action
• Regulating and cleansing effect on digestive system
• Immunological properties during the period of increased risk of bacterial and virus infections
• Regenerating effect on intestinal and gastric walls (gastric ulcers caused by stress)

Many years of American intellectual workers' experience have proved that yerba mate stimulates the brain at the same time protecting the human body. This is why at some workplaces coffee dispensers have been replaced with machines dispensing fresh yerba mate infusion - very often it was done at the employees' request!

Dosage: If you need an instant feeling of invigoration and maximum concentration prepare an infusion by brewing 5-7 tablespoons of yerba mate; you can brew the leaves up to three times. If you drink yerba mate regularly brew 4-5 tablespoons to prepare an infusion.

As far as manual workers are considered, they need mental strengthening and general well-being, good concentration and good mood. All this can be obtained from an infusion of yerba mate. What is most important about yerba mate is that it boosts your tiredness resistance without causing palpitations and unpleasant overstimulation. If you want to quench your thirst and boost your body's efficiency you should drink an infusion of 5-7 yerba mate heaped tablespoons on a daily basis.

You will be able to see the results in no time - significant improvement or increase of physical strength and concentration can be noticed from the very first day of drinking it. Drinking yerba mate regularly guarantees physical strength without the feeling of tiredness or palpitations.

Convalescing people are a special group due to the fact that their condition requires a strengthening of the body as well as protection from bacteria and viruses. Yerba mate infusion has for many centuries been used in anaemia, scurvy, and mild allergies treatment. It constitutes a wonderful complex of vitamins and minerals, substances which are necessary to restore and regenerate the body after a disease. Dosage: 5 tablespoons three times a day in case of adults; children over three - 2 tablespoons twice a day.

Pensioners and senior citizens as well as elderly people in general are usually persons over 50 or 60, who need regeneration of the body after years of work. In their case, drinking yerba mate can result in a better general mental and physical state as well as the restoration of vigour and activeness. This age group is often threatened with high risk of falling ill and being subject to anxiety and depression. Regular drinking of yerba mate alleviates joints ache and the feeling of constant lack of energy and motivation. Drunk by pensioners and senior citizens already leading an active lifestyle yerba mate will prevent viral diseases, remove free radicals from the body and anxiety experienced in difficult situations. Drinking yerba mate is the best thing we can do when we lack physical strength or feel sad. If we have a special mate cup we can even go for a walk with it and seep the beverage through a bombilla. As a lot of pensioners like long strolls, a mate filled with yerba, a bombilla and a thermos filled with hot water is a kit which will help to add to each stroll a note of fruitful life. The advised dosage for elderly persons is 5-8 tablespoons of yerba mate drunk regularly, two or three times a day.

Collectors constitute a particular group of people characterized by sophisticated aesthetic taste and connoisseurship within the given field. For them beautiful objects constitute valuable souvenirs. Very often when they see something beautiful, charming, of beautiful appearance, shape and meant for an intriguing usage, they experience very strong feelings. Bombillas and cups for drinking yerba mate are perfect for collectors. The careful workmanship, ornaments and passions with which they were made mean are very important. Ornaments, material and historical value encourage many collectors to spend enormous sums of money in order to own a beautiful bombilla or a mate cup. Unfortunately, this is not easy as these objects are collected by many people, who are obviously very rich since to make a bombilla or a mate materials such as silver, gold, diamonds, and the most expensive and rare types of wood are used.

Silver and gold alloys are used to incrust mate dishes and the ornaments are made by hand by means of techniques which are known to very few people, are either a secret, or have been long forgotten. Materials which are used in production of these cups - metal alloy, buffalo horn, or wood are carefully selected, which makes them very durable. The taste of yerba mate is also enhanced due to the fact that wood imparts its aroma to the beverage, while metal does not impart other ingredients. The extraordinary shapes of mate cups, the artistry of their making and their great value make the price at auctions very high and the cups themselves sometimes become a peculiar, extremely sought-after rara avis.

The most precious metals and metal alloys of silver, gold, platinum, and alpacca also called new or nickel silver (an alloy containing 40-70% copper, 10-20 % nickel, and 5-40% zinc) are used in production of bombillas. The production process of a bombilla is extremely labour-consuming and requires great precision. As a result, a well-crafted bombilla has unique aesthetic and pragmatic properties. The ornaments on bombillas are exceptionally beautiful and can be a source of pleasure due to their form and craftiness with which they were made. Sometimes they are additionally decorated with precious stones such as diamonds, pearls, rubies, depending on a client's wishes. Their durability is known to be centuries-long and their beauty is enchanting. An artist making a bombilla has to possess a vast knowledge on metalwork as well as a lot of experience. However, the end product can be very rewarding. Bombillas for common use are produced on a mass-scale and therefore have many flaws, which can be instantly spotted by an experienced collector, but don't constitute any problem for a common bombilla user.

Depending on one's preferences, yerba mate can be drunk two or three times a day, but in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, it is drunk many times throughout the day, of course, apart from other beverages. On average, one inhabitant consumes about 7 kilograms of yerba mate each year, which gives half a kilogram a month. Daily intake of yerba mate amounts therefore to 20 grams which would cost a Polish consumer less than PLN 1.5 if he/she bought 100gr for PLN 7 in a cheap teashop. This is as much as a small carton of fruit juice costs. However, advantages of drinking yerba mate are much greater than that of drinking fruit juice and many other beverages. The conclusion is simple: it's worth drinking yerba mate! Try it yourself!