VelociTea wrote:Also.. If anyone is concerned about the Yerba Mate-Cancer link, like I was, it is because the majority of the South American companies traditionally smoke dry their product over burning wood, which drastically increases the presence of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in the Yerba.
As I mentioned before, I drink organic Guayaki Yerba Mate, a North American company, and their San Mateo Yerba is 100% air dried. The taste difference between air and smoke dried is night and day. I personally enjoy air dried MUCH more, as the smoked ones literally tasted like wood to me.
PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) are in a lot of things including lots of foods, air, water, coffee, and even tea.
Most yerba, even the type processed with fire and a lot of major Argentine and Paraguayan brands like Amanda, La Rubia, Nobleza Gaucha, and Federico, is not smoked unless it's Rosamonte brand or it's the Barbauca type.