What do you mix with the herbal tea? The South American beverage can be mixed with dried fruits, spicy flavors, mint leaves, and dairy-free milk. Carefully balance flavors when blending, without overpowering any ingredients. Get creative with different blends and ingredients.
The tea pairs well with a variety of flavors. Add peppermint to create a soothing, awakening flavor. The mint works well for both hot mate and tereré. When sipped hot, the peppermint’s oils are released, providing an awakening effect.
The herbal tea can be prepared in several ways:
- the traditional method with a gourd and bombilla
- tereré, an iced variation popular in Paraguay and Brazil
- a french press or tea infuser
- a coffee machine
Each method provides a unique way to enjoy the tea’s benefits.
Yerba mate is made from the leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. It is traditionally consumed in parts of South America, especially Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. The indigenous Guarani people first cultivated yerba mate in pre-Columbian Paraguay.
Yerba mate has many health benefits. It contains caffeine as well as antioxidants, amino acids, and vitamins. Yerba mate is most commonly consumed as a tea, brewed in hot water. It has a bitter, earthy flavor. Locals in South America drink yerba mate throughout the day from a gourd using a metal straw called a bombilla.
The traditional method uses a gourd (called a mate) and a bombilla. The tea is prepared by filling the gourd most of the way with dry leaves, shaking the gourd to settle the leaves, and then pouring hot water just short of the top.
Yerba mate can also be made like coffee in a French press, or by steeping tea bags or loose leaves in hot water. It can also be prepared terere-style by steeping the leaves in cold water.
When preparing traditional mate, it’s important to use properly dried yerba mate leaves. The leaves are dried over fires, imparting a delicious smoky flavor. The best yerba mate has whole, intact leaves that have been slowly fire-dried by a master yerbatero.
Yerba mate is generally safe to consume in moderation. While there’s no strict guidelines, most people drink 1-2 liters per day without issues. As with any caffeine-containing drink, it’s best not to overdo it.
Never use boiling water to brew yerba mate. Flavor as desired. You don’t need to boil yerba mate, just heat water to a simmer.
To prepare traditional style, use a gourd and filtered straw. Place yerba mate in the gourd, moisten with cool water, then fill with hot water. Other preparation methods include using a French press, tea bags or cold brewing. You can also mix other herbs into yerba mate.
The traditional preparation uses a gourd and filtered straw. Place yerba mate in the gourd, moisten with cool water, then fill with hot water.
To make yerba mate, fill a gourd halfway with yerba mate leaves. Lay a bombilla (filtered straw) over leaves. Add cold water to space in gourd, allowing leaves to absorb it. Then add hot (not boiling) water. The traditional way to drink yerba mate is to share one gourd in a social gathering, passing it around. You can also make cold yerba mate tea called tereré. To reduce bitterness, don’t use boiling water and add lemon or honey. Limit consumption as with other herbal teas. Health benefits attributed to yerba mate over centuries include increased energy.