Mate is a tea drink made from the leaves of a bush typically grown in South American countries. It is prepared by steeping dried leaves and twigs in hot water. The drink has a strong, earthy flavor with hints of tobacco.
There are several traditional methods for preparing mate. It can be brewed in a gourd or mug using a metal straw called a bombilla. The bombilla filters out the leaves while allowing you to sip the infusion. Another method is to brew it loose like regular tea, then strain out the leaves before drinking.
Mate has many health benefits. It contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The caffeine content gives an energizing effect. It’s often described as providing the alertness of coffee without the jitters.
Sharing mate is traditional in its native countries. The cebador, or prepare, pours water over the leaves and passes the gourd to others in a circle. This makes for a relaxing, social experience.
Mate Flavor and Preparation
Mate is a drink made by steeping dried leaves in hot water. It tastes like green tea, with tobacco and oak hints. Boiling water makes bitter mate.
With a French press, adjust strength by using different amounts and steeping times from 1 to 3 minutes. Find the best method for your taste. Buy an electric kettle with infuser to easily brew tea.
You can also brew mate tea using methods similar to coffee:
- Experiment with different steeping times and amounts to find your preferred strength.
When drinking mate, use a bombilla – a metal straw with a filter to strain out leaves.
How Much Mate to Use
How long do you let mate sit?
Simply use 1 tablespoon of leaves per 8 ounces of water, let it steep for 3-5 minutes. You can also drink mate tea bags. I personally find tea bags to be too mild for my taste.
When drinking from a gourd or even a mug, you can (and should) refill it as many times as needed until all the flavor is gone. Brewing its leaves with the reverence this traditional practice deserves, makes the whole experience special.
I generally use a gourd unless I am waiting for my gourd to dry out, or making cocido on the stove in a pot of hot water to drink hot or over ice. Mate also tastes delicious iced with juice.
At times I have used honey, and when I first started out drinking mate I would add in honey and milk. 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.
If you’re short on time or want to try iced mate with a deeper flavor, switch to the hot brew method: Use twice the amount per cup of water and heat the water to 170 F. Steep for 4 to 6 minutes before straining. Remember not to move bombilla while drinking, so that it does not clog, and after drinking you can pour water over the same leaves even several times.