I’ve noticed there’s a bit of controversy when it comes to yerba mate dust/powder/polvo.

You know what I’m talking about… those wispy green clouds that float out of the package when you shake it. And that iconic powdery green circle (also our logo) that’s left on your palm when you prepare yerba mate the traditional way.

Most people don’t pay any mind to it when they see it. They assume it’s just part of the yerba.

After all, if it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be there in the first place, right?

But then there’s another group of people who believe it’s bad, unhealthy, and downright disgusting.

Who should we listen to?

Well, in today’s post we’re going to take a look closer look at what this yerba mate dust is, the beliefs around it, and whether it’s actually good or bad for you.

What Is Yerba Mate Dust?

Knowing what this mysterious dust is should quell people’s concerns and worries so let’s first start with that.

Most seem to think it’s a bizarre foreign object.

But really, this dust is simply leaves grounded and pulverized into a very fine powder. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s a natural byproduct of the processing of yerba. The leaves, the stems, the dust – it all comes from the same plant. It just takes a different form and appearance.

Now that you know this, we can safely say dust is good (instead of bad) for you…

Why?

Because consuming just the dust is no different than consuming just the leaves as they’re essentially the same thing.

And that’s exactly what the Brazilians have been doing for centuries.

Is Mate Dust Bad?

If you didn’t know, Brazil has its own type of mate called chimarrão.

And guess what?

Chimarrão is almost entirely dust.

Take a look.

A lot isn’t it?

This is what Brazilian brands like Ximango and Madrugada look like.

So for those of you who think drinking mate dust is bad or unhealthy, tell that to Brazilians…

They do it all the time!

Now although it’s not bad for you, I know some may think it’s off-putting. But I personally, don’t. I think it’s an important element to the overall yerba mate experience, taste, and look.

Why?

Why Mate Powder Is Good

Mate dust is crucial for many reasons, but let’s get the main one out the way first.

Mate dust contributes to the flavor of the mate. If you compare the taste of Argentine yerba (low polvo content) to Brazilian chimarrão (high polvo content), the taste is night and day. One of the reasons is because chimarrão isn’t aged, but it’s also because of the amount of dust. I can’t tell you in what exact manner it affects the taste, but when it comes to Argentina versus Brazil, Brazil’s yerba has a much milder flavor.

Mate dust also affects the body of the mate. From my experience, usually the more powder a yerba has, the fuller its body and the more texture. Instead of the fluid feeling smooth and light, it feels slightly thicker and creamy. Sometimes, it can also be a bit sandy or grainy as inevitably, some dust passes through the bombilla.

Lastly, dust makes preparing the mate easier and more aesthetically pleasing. Without powder, forming a nice mountain of mate is almost impossible. You’ll experience this when you drink most Argentinian brands. But with a good amount of dust like brands from Uruguay and Paraguay, it acts as a glue when wet and holds all the leaves and stems together. Now, if there’s too much dust like Brazil’s chimarrão, that’s when it can be a problem. Preparing chimarrão is much harder than preparing any other yerba.

If you’re still not convinced by the benefits of mate dust and still want to avoid it for whatever reason, here are some things you can do…

How To Avoid Mate Dust

All bags of yerba contain dust. Whether it’s a lot or a little, it’s always there.

If you want to avoid it or at least lessen the amount, one easy way to do this is to pour the yerba in a plastic food container and shake it. This will release most of the powder into the air and out of the yerba.

Another thing you can do is when your gourd is filled with yerba, take your palm, cover the opening, and shake the gourd upside-down. This is what you usually do when you normally prepare yerba mate to form a slope. But it also helps remove dust. Each time you shake, you’ll find a circle of dust on your palm. Blow it off, then shake again and again until you’re satisfied.

But for the best results, use a mesh strainer. Brazilians use this all the time to sprinkle mate dust on top of their prepared gourds for a nicer presentation. Grab one of these and use it to scoop some yerba. Then shake it to separate all the dust from the leaves and stems. And voila! Pure dust-free yerba.

If you don’t want to do all this extra work, you can just buy some low-dust brands.

Yerba Mate Brands With Little/No Dust

When looking for a yerba mate brand with little to no dust, the only place to start is with Argentinian brands.

Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil all have a strong focus on mate dust.

So what are some good low-dust brands?

From what I’ve reviewed, I found brands like Playadito (Review), Liebig (Review), Kraus (Review), Jesper (Review), and La Merced De Campo (Review) to be very low in powder. You can also go for suave variations which popular brands like Rosamonte (Review) and Pipore offer, as well as modern North American brands like Guayaki (Review) and ECO TEAS.

Final Words

Mate dust is 100% safe to drink.

Remember, it’s simply finely pulverized leaves. And Brazilians drink it all the time.

It’s a special element that provides balance, strength, body, and structure to the mate. I think avoiding it completely would be a mistake. But if it’s just not for you, there are still other options out there with little to no dust. In addition to the methods for removing the powder yourself.

P.S. If you enjoyed this post, you might also want to check out our store for some exclusive yerba mate equipment.