How to Brew Matico Tea the Right Way (Soldier's Herb)

July 11, 2026

Matico doesn't get much attention outside of Peru, and that's a little surprising given how long it's been part of Amazonian daily life. Ask an herbalist in Iquitos or Pucallpa about "yerba del soldado" and they'll usually mention two things in the same breath: the crushed leaf pressed onto a cut, and the tea sipped for an upset stomach. Today we're focused on the second one, since the leaf is stubborn enough that most people brew it wrong on the first try.

What Matico Actually Is

Matico is the dried leaf of Piper aduncum, a shrub in the pepper family that grows wild across the lowland and mid-altitude rainforest of central Peru. The "soldier's herb" nickname comes from an old story: fighters in the field supposedly used the crushed leaves to slow bleeding and clean wounds. True or not, that topical use for cuts and scrapes has stuck around in rural Peru for generations. It also shows up as one ingredient in blends like Prostasan, alongside cat's claw and horsetail, mostly for that same anti-inflammatory reputation.

The tea is a separate tradition from the poultice. Internally, matico has long been used for stomach discomfort, mild inflammation, and, because of its place in respiratory blends, as a supporting ingredient for chest congestion. It's not a headline herb like maca or camu camu. It's more of a background player that shows up in combination products, which is part of why a dedicated brewing guide for it is hard to find.

Why People Brew It Wrong

Piper leaves are tough and a little waxy compared to something delicate like chamomile. Treat matico like a green tea (quick dunk, water just off the boil) and you'll end up with a thin, grassy cup that barely tastes like anything. Brew it properly and you get a stronger, peppery, almost bitter cup that's closer to what it's actually meant to taste like.

How to Brew It

Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried loose leaf per 8 oz cup. Matico isn't delicate, so don't be shy with the amount.
Bring water to a full boil, then pour it straight over the leaves. Unlike more delicate teas, matico can handle full-boil water without turning bitter in the wrong way.
Cover the cup and steep for 8 to 10 minutes. This is the step most people skip. A quick steep gives you weak, watery tea; the full time pulls out the flavor and whatever compounds are in the leaf.
Strain well. The leaves are a bit brittle and can leave sediment if your infuser has wide holes.
Taste it plain first. If the pepper-forward bitterness is too much, which for a lot of first-timers it is, a small spoon of honey or a few leaves of muña mixed in will round it out without hiding it completely.

Most people who drink matico regularly have one to two cups a day, generally after a meal rather than on an empty stomach. There's no official dosing standard for the tea, so this is really just what tradition and common sense suggest, not a clinical recommendation.

What the Research Actually Says

Let's be straightforward about this: matico tea doesn't have the kind of clinical research behind it that chamomile or ginger have. What exists is mostly lab work on Piper aduncum essential oil and extracts, showing antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity in test tubes and animal models. That's interesting groundwork, but it's a long way from proving what a cup of brewed leaf tea does inside an actual person. If you see matico marketed with big, specific health claims, take it with a grain of salt. The tradition is real and long-standing; the science hasn't caught up to confirm most of what people attribute to it.

A Few Cautions

Matico hasn't been well studied for safety in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, so it's best avoided in those cases unless a doctor says otherwise. If you're on blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder, mention matico to your doctor before drinking it regularly, given its traditional association with wound healing and circulation. Start with a small amount to see how your stomach handles it, and skip it entirely if you have a known allergy to plants in the pepper (Piperaceae) family.

If loose leaf isn't your thing, we also carry Matico in tea bags for a simpler steep, or you'll find it blended with cat's claw, horsetail, and huamanpinta in Prostasan Tea. Browse the full lineup in our herbal teas collection.