Caffeinated and decaffeinated mate tea: Effect of toasting on bioactive compounds and consumer acceptance

Abstract

We analyzed the influence of toasting yerba mate on bioactive compounds contents in different genotypes and the consumer acceptance of caffeinated and decaffeinated mate teas. The influence of toasting was studied using 11 genotypes and a control sample, determining the antioxidant capacity, total phenolic compounds, methylxanthines and caffeoylquinic acids before and after toasting. In the acceptance tests, five decaffeinated and six caffeinated teas and two control samples (commercial products) were evaluated separately by 110 consumers. The toasting process reduced the levels of teas bioactive compounds, as well as differences between genotypes were found. After toasting, EC49 and EC37 showed the highest caffeine levels, while EC29 and EC51 presented the lowest levels. In relation to mate tea acceptance, the decaffeinated genotypes EC29 and EC51 performed well, and EC43 and EC33 stood out among the caffeinated ones. In both cases, the genotypes were equal or superior to commercial products. In general, decaffeinated teas were more accepted than caffeinated ones.

Market Expansion of Caffeine-Containing Products: Italian and Argentinian Yerba Mate Consumer Behavior and Health Perception

“…Third, retailers should offer more brands of yerba mate, a wider price range, and new formats, to allow for consumer choice and different purchasing power. Retailers may start commercializing new formats of mate, such as mate capsules, mate-based soft drinks, decaffeinated, chewinggums, and cocktails [72,73]. Fourth, herbalist shops may offer yerba mate with lower prices, ensure higher service and advice, such as tasting sessions, and include mate sets and accessories in their portfolio to provide a realistic mate experience.…”

Aggressiveness and screening for host responses in yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) clones to a wilt disease caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata

“…It is extensively used for tea preparation due its several medicinal benefic activities, including antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antimutagenic, anti‐obesity and cardioprotective functions (Bracesco et al, 2011; Gómez‐Juaristi et al, 2018). From its dried leaves and stems, different traditional products are obtained for consumption in tonics and stimulating beverages, as ‘chimarrão’ (infusion with hot water), ‘tererê’ (infusion with cold water) and mate tea, all of them rich in bioactive substances (Croge et al, 2020; Duarte et al, 2020). Yerba mate is also standing out for new uses, such as the production of dyes, ice cream, caramels, medicines and perfumes, among others.…”

“…In addition, recent studies showed that the aqueous extract of yerba mate has antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties. It also helps control obesity, besides being a diuretic and an energetic beverage (Duarte et al, 2020; López‐Córdoba et al, 2014). In addition to the health benefits, the cultivation of I. paraguariensis plays a valuable socio‐economic role because it is commercialized by small producers and directly linked to the permanence of families in rural areas (Luz et al, 2017).…”

Yerba Mate Extract in Microfibrillated Cellulose and Corn Starch Films as a Potential Wound Healing Bandage

“…One of the many disadvantages of mixing these extracts within cellulose films is their potential decrease/degradation in bioactive compounds after film formation [16], and blending during defibrillation may protect its compounds, providing a better efficiency in any suitable application.…”

“…Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil) is an important native plant, the leaves of which are widely utilized in the southern part of the South American region [17] due to its beneficial compounds and caffeine, and is consumed as a hot beverage, tea [18]. However, recent works have been shown that this plant contains increased contents of caffeoylquinic acids [16,19], to which are attributed the plant's anticancer [20], anti-inflammatory [21] and antioxidant properties [22]. In addition, yerba mate is within a small number of species in nature that contain these compounds in great abundance [19].…”