MATE DRINKING - CAFFEINE AND PHENOLIC-ACID INTAKE

Herbal mate tea, known locally as 'chimarrao', is a stimulating bevera ge traditionally consumed by the Gauchos of South America. Infusions w ere prepared according to the method used by the Gauchos, and caffeine , chlorogenic acids and caffeic acid were determined in unhydrolysed a nd hydrolysed samples. An intake of 260 mg of caffeine, 240 mg of chlo rogenic acids and 170 mg of caffeic acid was estimated, exceeding by f ar the intake recorded in the literature for other beverages containin g these compounds. The factors influencing the concentrations of these compounds in the infusions indicate that higher amounts could be inge sted. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.