Mate is a plant from the holly family that grows in South America, especially Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. For centuries, people have used dried leaves of the plant as tea or infusion.
Brewing Instructions
The recommended water temperature for making the herbal drink is 150-175 degrees Fahrenheit. The exact temperature depends on the type you are using and how strong you like it. Steep tea for around 3-5 minutes. This allows the leaves to release their full flavor, resulting in a rich tea. However, longer steeping results in a stronger, more bitter taste.
With a French press, adjust the strength by choosing how much loose leaf you use and how long you let it steep between 1-3 minutes. One option is to use an electric tea kettle with infuser to brew the South American tea.
Tereré is a traditional cold-brewed drink. Hot drinking involves steeping loose-leaf tea in very hot, not boiling, water before straining it into a cup or gourd and sipping through a metal straw called bombilla.
When making tea, use about half the height of the gourd or cup with leaves to allow uniformity. Pay attention to brewing time and preparation instructions for the type of tea. The herbal infusion is brewed with hot, not boiling, water.
How to make the perfect drink?
The South American drink has been consumed for centuries for its energizing and healing properties. The taste is mild and light throughout when brewed properly.
With a French press, you can easily adjust the strength of the tea by choosing how much loose leaf you use and how long you let it steep. Steeping for different amounts of time will unlock a range of flavors and aromas, allowing you to savor a truly personalized tea experience.
Typically, the herbal tea should be steeped for around 3-5 minutes in hot water (between 150-180°F). The Cold Brew Method uses cool water instead of warm/hot then refrigerate overnight; yielding all properties with reduced bitterness/better floral notes yield effortlessly.
In the traditional way of brewing and enjoying the tea you share the gourd (bowl) with a circle of friends and family.
Can I brew the South American plant like tea?
Steeping for different amounts of time will unlock a range of flavors and aromas, allowing you to savor a truly personalized tea experience. The effects of longer steeping are quite pronounced. It intensifies the taste, resulting in a bolder and more robust flavor profile.
One of South America’s most social infusions—not technically a tea, but derived instead from the rainforest holly plant Ilex paraguariensis—is a flavorful departure from other steeped drinks.
The taste is mild and light throughout when brewed in a tea pot. It still has the same earthy flavor, but it’s nowhere near as strong compared to drinking with a gourd and bombilla. For beginners getting into the tea, this is a great way to start.
Experimenting with different steeping temperatures and trying different brewing methods can also affect the flavor profile of your tea.
The plant was first cultivated and used by the indigenous Guaraní people and in some Tupí communities in southern Brazil, prior to European colonization.
The herbal tea provides a more sustained energy boost than coffee with less caffeine but more nutrients. It also has antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. For focus and mood benefits, it has some caffeine that gives less jolt than coffee. The tea is more nutritious with antioxidants. But coffee also reduces disease risks like cancer, Alzheimer’s, obesity and diabetes.
The plant gives leaves for the tea drunk in South America. It has a unique flavor and caffeine similar to coffee but may cause less anxiety or crashes. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.
The caffeine content is lower in the herbal infusion. But it has more stimulating compounds than coffee providing smoother, longer boosts.
Ilex paraguariensis tea from leaves has medicinal properties. It has similar caffeine to coffee but no jitters or crashes. Its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial antioxidants may help fight illness.
The mate drink is more nutritious because it’s packed with all the elements and properties.