It’s interesting to see the love for yerba mate here! Fun fact: until the 1800s, yaupon holly was the go-to caffeinated beverage in the USA. Native Americans and early settlers drank it regularly, much like how yerba mate is enjoyed in South America. It was called “black drink” and was prized for its stimulating effects and health benefits. However, coffee’s rise in popularity pushed yaupon holly out of the spotlight. It’s now making a comeback as people rediscover its unique flavor and benefits. If you’re curious, check out some of the stories about yaupon holly’s history and resurgence!
This is surprising the article does not mention Germany (maybe it is too rich). There is a huge mate soft drink culture in Germany with lots of different brands. Club Mate is 100 years old soft drink so call it a traditional German drink.
According to Wikipedia the Latin name was given for a reason.
* Historically the ceremonial consumption often included vomiting, and Europeans deduced that yaupon caused it (hence the Latin name - Ilex vomitoria).[11] The active ingredients, like those of the related yerba mate and guayusa plants, are caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline;[12][13] the vomiting may have resulted from the great quantities in which they drank the beverage, coupled with fasting.[6][14]*
It was named this way because colonialists thought it was what was primarily used in Cherokee medicine that caused vomiting. In reality it may have merely just have been one ingredient or not used at all. The berries also cause stomach upset
It’s not paid by the government, it’s paid by the health insurance system that everyone must enroll in and had to pay for every trimester. Granted, it’s not too expensive.
Honestly I’m not sure with the 160 covers. It’s just another one of those things in our medical system that is priced a bit too high to make sense for a good number of folks. I would like to see healthcare be more accessible.
