Yerba mate with… cannabis?
As we know, yerba mate is an infusion with many properties. It contains an abundance of vitamins and micro and macro elements. It combines perfectly with a variety of additives - herbs, dried flowers, fruit in various forms, oils and aromas. It is also a great base for culinary experiments. What about combining yerba mate with cannabis? How does it work? Let's find out!
Summary:
- Cannabis sativa - a plant with many faces
- Legal issues
- Properties and effects of hemp
- Yerba mate with cannabis in the MateMundo.co.uk online shop
Cannabis sativa - a plant with many faces
Before we begin to consider the connection between mate tea and cannabis, let's get some facts straight. Many people associate cannabis with a drug. It is a plant that, depending on the amount of cannabinoids it contains, can exhibit psychoactive effects. The most common compound in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC, which has a strong narcotic effect, and dried cannabis containing large amounts of this substance is known as marijuana. Hemp also contains another common chemical compound, cannabidiol, more widely known as CBD. It does not have a psychoactive effect, but instead exhibits many positive properties and is even used to treat certain diseases and conditions. Hemp causes a lot of controversy around the world, precisely because of its psychoactive effects. Marijuana, which is produced from the dried inflorescences of the plant, is banned in many countries, although over the past several years some countries have allowed possession of the drug and cultivation of the plant in limited quantities. However, the cultivation and industrial use of hemp with a maximum content of 0.2% or 0.3% THC (depending on the country) is not prohibited. Hemp produces fibres, which are used to make clothes and ropes; hemp fibres are also used to make paper and building materials. The food industry, on the other hand, uses hemp oil and seeds - they contain the prized compound CBD and have a high nutritional value. It was this last aspect that interested yerba mate producers, who decided to combine Paraguayan “tea” with the addition of cannabis.
Legal issues
In 1961, the plant was blacklisted by the UN, and in 1968 the THC compound became a banned substance. This resulted in a worldwide ban on the cultivation and possession of dried plant, as well as restrictions on research into and industrial use of the plant. 20 years later, scientists in France succeeded in developing a special way of growing low-THC cannabis. This allowed some of the restrictions to be lifted and hemp to be used again for textiles, building materials or food. Numerous studies were launched, with scientists carefully examining the plant's effects and properties. Many countries around the world have begun to legalise cannabis to some extent.
Uruguayan yerba mate with magic herb
The idea of combining yerba mate with cannabis came from Uruguay - it is the first country to legalise cannabis cultivation, trade and recreational use. The bill was drafted in 2012, legislation was passed in 2014 and the new laws came into force in 2017. Registered residents in Uruguay can buy cannabis in limited quantities from a pharmacy. The loosening of the law has contributed to the idea of combining yerba mate with the addition of the controversial plant. The people of Uruguay love yerba mate. The country's statistical resident drinks almost 9kg of mate per year. So it's no surprise that the idea of combining yerba mate with cannabis, which Uruguayans have gained access to, originated here. The first brands to start selling this unusual composition were Cosentina and Abuelita. Of course, these are not yerba mate with marijuana - a drug that causes psychotic effects. These yerba mate do not contain THC. There is an added herb in their composition where the THC content is less than 0.2 %. If it were the opposite, they would not be authorised for sale.
Properties and effects of hemp
Hemp tea - the cannabis infusion
CBD-infused products are becoming increasingly popular in Europe. Hemp oils or cosmetics with hemp extract in their composition are making a real splash on the market. Herbal and health food shops sell hemp teas, perversely known as “infusions with marijuana leaves”. The teas available to the general public do not contain THC and do not have psychoactive effects. Instead, they have many other valued properties. The CBD contained in cannabis leaves helps with chronic pain, improves the mood of people who struggle with anxiety or depression, and supports the digestive system. Important - infusion with cannabis is not a medicine! The effect of hemp teas is not immediate. It can be visible during regular use.
How does yerba mate with CBD work?
Yerba mate is a source of many vitamins and minerals. Its chemical composition lists B and C vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron and zinc, among others. It also contains antioxidants. Thanks to caffeine content, it is highly stimulating, improves concentration and suppresses the feeling of hunger. In addition to cannabinoids, hemp seed also contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals. Iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc and chromium, vitamins B and E, as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These two ingredients combined together provide a decent dose of nutrients essential to the body's functioning. Hemp-infused yerba mate is therefore a complete dietary supplement. The effects of hemp, however, are quite different from those of yerba mate. The CBD contained in the plant is relaxing and calming. Not without reason, it is often used to treat insomnia. When combined with yerba mate, it somewhat offsets its stimulating effect, making this effect much milder, more subdued, and such a mixture can be successfully drunk even in the late afternoon.
Yerba mate with cannabis in the MateMundo.co.uk online shop
If you want to buy and try a combination of yerba mate and cannabis, you don't have to look far! There are several suggestions for this interesting combination available in our online shop. First of all, we recommend Yaguar Cannabis. This product has CBD in its composition - in the form of hemp flour. The base is slightly strong. Yaguar comes from Brazil, but is made according to Argentine tradition - the Ilex paraguariensis leaves are dried over a hearth and then subjected to an ageing process, which gives the infusion a more intense taste and aroma. Our shop also offers an organic Brazilian yerba mate with hemp - Soul Mate Orgánica Cannabis. This is an option for conscious mate drinkers who value a high quality product that has not been achieved at the expense of the surrounding environment.
Source of information:
- Wikipedia: Cannabis, Cannabis sativa, Cannabinoid, Tetrahydrocannabinol, Cannabidiol, Cannabis (drug).
- Francisco Fuentes, La yerba mate con cannabis florece en Uruguay, Euronews, 2018 r.
- Niamh Michail, Calming CBD is a perfect balance for yerba mate’s caffeine, says Uruguay’s Consentina, FoodNavigator-LATAM, 2019 r.
- statista.com.
