Mate tea

Mate tea is rated moderate and carries the DAO Blocker tag. SIGHI names mate tea directly in its diamine oxidase inhibitors box, so mate may slow the breakdown of histamine.

Why mate tea is rated moderate

Yerba mate is a different plant from black and green tea, so it is not on this list by association with them. SIGHI's food list names black tea and green tea in its restricted column, and it names mate tea among its diamine oxidase inhibitors, alongside alcohol and certain medicaments, as substances that can block the breakdown of histamine by DAO. That direct listing is what the DAO Blocker tag records here: mate may slow the breakdown of histamine, which matters most when a meal has histamine in it to clear. Mate also contains caffeine, which is a separate point. The listing comes from patient reports rather than a measured effect on the enzyme, and many people with histamine intolerance drink it daily without trouble.

What changes your risk

• Plain yerba or a flavored blend: Mate is often sold blended with citrus, mint or fruit flavorings, and citrus is rated a histamine liberator on this index. Plain single-ingredient yerba is simpler to judge than a blend.
• Time of day: Mate contains caffeine. Caffeine raises adrenaline, which can produce flushing, a racing heart or jitters that overlap with histamine symptoms, and late-day caffeine can disrupt sleep.
• Hot or iced: Mate is drunk both hot and cold. The temperature changes the drink, not the moderate rating or the DAO Blocker tag.
• Steeping: A shorter steep is something people choose, and it changes the strength of the drink. It does not change the rating or the tag.
• Storage: Yerba keeps best sealed and dry, which affects the quality of the leaf rather than its place on this index.

Lower-histamine alternatives

Lemon balm and fennel seed are rated low here with no tags, as are peppermint, lemongrass, chamomile and fresh ginger. Rooibos is the fullest of them, red-brown in the cup and able to take milk. SIGHI places herbal teas and rooibos nature in its well tolerated column, the same column as water. See the site's low histamine tea recipes for caffeine-free versions.

How to lower the risk

Plain single-ingredient yerba is easier to judge than a flavored mate, since blends often bring citrus or other additions along with the leaf. Store it sealed and dry. Mate contains caffeine, and late-day caffeine can disrupt sleep. For a caffeine-free infusion, lemon balm, fennel seed, peppermint, lemongrass, chamomile, fresh ginger and rooibos are all rated low on this index.

Common questions

Is mate tea high in histamine?

It is rated moderate here, not high. The DAO Blocker tag records SIGHI's listing of mate tea in its diamine oxidase inhibitors box.

Is mate tea a DAO blocker?

SIGHI lists mate tea as a possible DAO blocker, naming it directly among its diamine oxidase inhibitors alongside alcohol and certain medicaments.

Is mate worse than green tea for histamine intolerance?

Both are rated moderate here with the DAO Blocker tag. The difference is how they reach it: SIGHI names mate tea directly in its DAO inhibitors box, while green tea is named in the restricted column.

What can I drink instead of mate?

Lemon balm, fennel seed, peppermint, lemongrass, chamomile, fresh ginger and rooibos are all rated low here with no tags.