This study was aimed at developing a yerba mate extract (YME) intended to be used as food additive with antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity. For the extraction, yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis, St Hill) leaves collected from three industrial processing steps (green, unaged-canchada, and aged-canchada) were used. The aged-canchada YME exhibited higher theobromine, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, caffeine, and kaempferol than green YME. It was selected for further analyses as it showed the