Abstract
The infusion of yerba mate (YM) Ilex paraguariensis, with its typical bitterness, is traditionally consumed in South America as a mild stimulant beverage. Two types of YM, with sticks (YM-S) and without sticks (YM-L) and three brands for each type were evaluated for caffeine content and the time course of bitterness. The chemical analysis of the six YM infusions at 5% w/v made by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that caffeine levels were higher for YM-L brands. The kinetic study of YM bitterness assessed by time-intensity (TI) curves revealed that the presence of sticks lowered maximum intensity, total duration and area under the curve of bitter perception.
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