More interestingly, most people misspell it as yarba mate. The concentration of caffeine is lower than in coffee, 0.5-0.8% versus 1.2% in coffees. It contains caffeine, theobromine and theophylline, chemicals found in coffee, tea and chocolate. Yerba Mate - Effects of the Yerba Mate Drink Yerba mate is often drunk as a tea in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.It is also known as yerba mate en, jerba mate, mate side yerba and many more.

However, its use as a weight loss aid is questionable. It is know for its diuretic and stimulant properties.

Prolonged consumption increases the risk. This is because it alone does not have fat burning qualities but it enhances fat burning products due to its properties. This makes up its stimulant and diuretic properties. There is no direct correlation between metabolism which is the basis of fat loss and its properties, that is why the effectiveness of it as a stand alone weight loss solution might not be the best idea. As with other herbs and plants, the concentration of these compounds depends on the plant growth, harvesting and production.

Minerals such as iron, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin C and E and carcinogens, tannins and N-nitrosamines, are also present in yerba mate.