You want to make the switch to mate, but you also want your morning drink to taste amazing. Don’t worry, it’s not complicated to make a healthy cup of mate that tastes great, too. Whether you’re using loose leaves or tea bags, it’s important to follow three simple rules whenever you brew it: Moisten the leaves with cool water first, never use boiling water—170F is ideal, and drink the tea.
If you follow a traditional recipe, it says to fill your gourd 2/3 with mate… that’s a lot of tea! I didn’t realize how much tea it actually was until I kept spooning it into the gourd.
What is Yerba Mate?
Mate drinking can be enjoyed without a gourd! This traditional South American drink has been around for centuries and is made by steeping dried leaves from the yerba mate plant in hot water. In addition to its unique flavor, mate offers numerous health benefits – such as increased energy, improved digestion, and reduced inflammation.
Mate contains a moderate amount of caffeine, falling in between coffee and tea with 85 mg per cup. The brewing time can affect how much caffeine is in each cup. It also contains high concentrations of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, C, and E.
There’s a wide variety of herbs that can be used in tea, many of which have medicinal properties and make great additions to mate. For starters, many people begin by adding peppermint to their gourds or french press, creating a soothing and awakening flavor profile.
In addition to the traditional hot mate tea, there is also a cold version called tereré. Brewed mate is ideal to refresh and hydrate the body while adding a touch of flavor.
Drinking mate with a mate (cup) and bombilla (metal straw) brings mate to a whole new level. Today there are a variety of mate (cups) even glass, metal, stainless steel or silver.
How to Brew Yerba Mate
Is an herbal tea. Use water that is hot, not boiling, to brew mate. Boiling water makes it bitter. Put leaves in your cup. The amount depends on your cup’s size.
You can also make mate like other teas. Use a tea strainer, french press, or coffee maker.
For a stronger flavor, use more mate and let it steep 1-3 minutes. You can also cold brew mate over ice for a refreshing drink. Add mint or lemon for extra flavor.
The traditional method uses a gourd and bombilla. Add cold water to the gap, then add hot but not boiling water.
Iced mate is refreshing. Brew it double strength. Let it cool and pour over ice.
What to Mix with Yerba Mate
What is mate?
It is an herb. Use water that is hot, not boiling, to brew it. Boiling water makes it bitter. Put leaves in your cup. The amount depends on your cup’s size.
You can also make mate like other teas. Use a tea strainer, french press, or coffee maker.
Mate tastes good different ways. Sweeteners, herbs, and temperature changes the flavor. Keep trying different blends until you find your favorite.
Mate Factor’s drink mix tastes great. It blends mate with other nutrients. This gives an energizing, refreshing drink for any time. It comes in four flavors too. Each has antioxidants to make you feel good.
Herbs to Blend with Yerba Mate
Peppermint works to make a soothing, awakening drink. For a refreshing flavor, use peppermint in cold tereré or hot mate. When hot, the peppermint’s oils release. This gives an awakening feeling.
Yerba Mate FAQs
How does mate compare to coffee and tea? What are its health impacts? How can it be sustainable?
Mate has caffeine like coffee and tea do. It may have health pros and cons to consider too. Sourcing mate sustainably is important. This helps the environment and communities where it’s grown.
Tips for Great Tasting Yerba Mate
Never use boiling water to brew mate. Use a blend of cool and hot water. Steps: Fill gourd with mate until roughly two-thirds full. Tilt the gourd, shake the leaves to one side. Lay the bombilla over the leaves. Add cold water to the gap. Allow leaves to absorb cool water. Add hot water.
To brew mate: Moisten leaves with cool water first. Use 170F water, not boiling. Steep for 5 minutes max. Add honey or creamer if desired, but not necessary. With practice you can make mate taste great by following these simple rules.
To make iced mate: Brew leaves as normal but use more mate than usual. Let tea cool before pouring over ice to ensure strong flavor. Add fresh mint or lemon for extra flavor.
With a french press you can easily adjust strength by changing amount of leaves and steeping time from 1-3 minutes. Find what gives the best tea for your taste. An electric kettle with infuser also works well to brew mate.
Mate naturally has caffeine making it a great caffeinated herbal tea alternative to coffee. You can drink it hot or iced.