Common Name: Té o Maté

General Information

Ilex tarapotina is an evergreen shrub or a small tree, usually growing around 2 - 3 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use of its leaves, which are used to make a beverage similar to maté[].

Known Hazards

Although no specific reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, Ilex species in general contain several potentially toxic compounds, particularly saponins, glycosides and triterpenoids. These compounds also often have a range of potential health benefits[, , ].
The berries are usually the part of the plant most likely to be toxic, though the degree of toxicity is usually low. Their bitter flavour usually prevents a person eating more than one or two, but even a small handful of the fruit eaten by a healthy adult is unlikely to cause more than feelings of nausea that can lead on to vomiting and diarrhoea[].
The compounds in the leaves are particularly interesting. The leaves of many Ilex species around the world are commonly used to make health-promoting teas that, when drunk on a regular basis, help to regulate bodily functions and can reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood-cholesterol levels etc (See Ilex paraguariensis or Ilex kaushue for examples)[]. Even these teas, however, if taken in very concentrated doses, can act as a laxative or cause vomiting. Indeed, several species are used by traditional peoples to induce vomiting as a means of purifying the body (see Ilex guayusa or Ilex vomitoria for examples)

Botanical References

,

Range

Western S. America - Peru

Habitat

Dense Andean evergreen humid forest, low cloud forest, growing in sphagnum in open marshes; at elevations from 1,100 - 1,700 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.50 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Ilex species generally tolerate most soils that are not water-logged[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

The leaves furnish a very good tea or 'maté'[].

Medicinal

As with the related Ilex paraguariensis (Yerba Mate), regular consumption of a tea made from the leaves of this species has been shown to have a range of beneficial regulatory effects upon the body, particularly by acting as an antioxidant and by regulating blood-lipid levels, thus lowering high cholesterol levels and improving circulation to the heart.

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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