64 lines
3.2 KiB
Plaintext
64 lines
3.2 KiB
Plaintext
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From: nclauson@lynx.dac.neu.edu (Neil Clauson)
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Newsgroups: alt.drugs
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Subject: Yerba Mate: Explanation
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Message-ID: <2gc77p$jm6@lynx.dac.neu.edu>
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Date: 4 Jan 94 16:58:33 GMT
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This description of Yerba Mate comes from the Herbal Stimulant Tea
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Sampler, from ..of the Jungle (an excellent rare-botanical supply co.)
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Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguayensis)
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This traditional Argentine beverage comes from the leaves of
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a bushy South American tree. The thick, shiny leaves are very rich in
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caffeine (to 2%) and vitamins. They have several volatile oils
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present which give the tea part of its distinctive aroma and taste. The
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best quality product comes from a process of fire roasting and curing
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the fresh branches to develop the characterisitc smoky flavor prized by
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mate lovers. In Paraguay and Argentina it is the national beverage,
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comsumed in vast quantities daily. Much of the supply comes from wild
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native trees which are perfectly suting to sustainable harvesting. The
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foraging industry depends on the preservation of intact forest habitat, so
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the protection of South American forests is in part made necessary by a
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strong market demand for such wild collected products. Driking mate helps
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protect the planet's endangered habitats and support simple forest people
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with a right livelihood.
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Yerba Mate is made in South America in a ritualized ceremony using
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a special cup and strar set. These are often highly ornamented utensils
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crafted from pure silver. The straw is flay at the base and fitted with a
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screen wich allows the brew to be strained as it is sipped. A spoonful of
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cushed, dried leaves is placed in the cup and boiling water poured over
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them and left to steep for several minutes. Those of us without the
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traditional apparatus can prepare an equally fine beverage by pouring
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water over the herb in a teapot and straining into cups after steeping.
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The effects are relatively long lasting, inducing a type of mental
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clarity and expansion of though proecessing capabilities. A feeling of
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enhanced memory and accelerated intellect is often experienced, however
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the racy edge of physical and mental stimulation is seldom noted. This
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state is especially suitng to periods of intense study, calculations, and
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cerebral activity requring endurance to maintain continous attention and
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precision focusing.
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*******
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Well there you go.. The stimulant sampler I mentioned contained
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an ounce each of Kola Nut Powder, Yerba Mate, Cacao Seed Powder, and
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Japanese Unfermented green tea (for only US$10) The description of Yerba
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Mate's effects are accurate. I would drink a cup after dinner (around 6 PM)
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after a hard day of classes, and I'd be -wired- until 1 or 2 AM. Unlike
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drinking coffee or coke, I'd only need the one cup, and I wouldn't have
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the heart pounding, mind racing effects you usually get. Yerba is
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definately a much cleaner, clearer high. (At least for me. I was
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usually programming, doing homework, or writing papers when I drank it,
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so my mind was active anyways..) I also found mate to help during exams,
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because it didn't give me any nervous jitters like you get from drinking
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Jolt.
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I can explain the effects of the other teas if asked, or I can
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tell you about the other Of the Jungle products I tried.
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Neil Clauson
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nclauson@lynx.northeastern.edu
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