Innovative technology of making tea "Mate"

Abstract

It is known that „mate tea“ drink is made from leaves and reeds of South American plants. In South America, living without a „mate” is unthinkable. This is the national drink of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Indians are confident that this drink can relieve mental and physical fatigue. Numerous studies have shown that mate tea contains almost all the vitamins and other nutrients necessary for normal human life. Raw materials for the production of ~mate tea~ are found in the tropical zone of South America. In Georgia, this raw material is not found. In addition, the price of these raw materials in the world market is quite high. There-fore, for the majority of our population, it is almost impossible to consume „mate tea“. The article presents an alternative sub-stitute for „mate tea“, which can be produced from the Caucasian rhododendron, in particular from its leaves, and also presents an innovative technology for processing the leaves of the Caucasian rhododendron. Caucasian rhododendron is found in the highlands of the Caucasus. The usefulness of the product obtained by processing the leaves of Caucasian rhododendron using innovative technology exceeds the usefulness of South American „mate tea“.