Ingredients
Mate is made by steeping dried leaves from the yerba mate plant in 170°F water. Use 1-2 tablespoons per 8 ounces of water. Steep for 3-5 minutes then strain. For a mellower taste, use cooler water or shorter steeping time. For more intense flavor, use hotter water or longer steeping time.
Brewing Methods
The tea can be brewed using any tea strainer, tea pot, french press, or coffee maker. Simply use 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces of water. Never use boiling water as this makes the tea bitter. Tea bags offer a milder introduction for beginners.
Traditional Method
The traditional method uses a gourd (mate) and a metal straw (bombilla) to drink the tea. The bombilla filters out the leaf powder. This method creates strong community bonds.
The tea contains caffeine. It can be enjoyed hot or cold. Cold mate is a refreshing, herbal alternative to iced coffee.
The tea is made from the dried leaves and twigs of the yerba mate plant. It has an intense, complex flavor when brewed. The leaves are not fully powdered but remain in flakes after drying. This makes the infusion method different than matcha tea.
Yerba Mate to Water Ratio
What is the ratio of yerba mate to water?
The tea is brewed using leaves from the yerba mate plant. The traditional way to enjoy the tea is to share the gourd with friends. You will need: Loose leaves, bombilla, gourd, hot water. The person preparing the tea is the “cebador”. They pour water into the gourd and pass it to each person.
You can also make it yourself. Do not use boiling water, 170°F is best. Steep for 3-5 minutes. You can drink it with milk or sweetener too.
It has a rich, green tea flavor with tobacco and oak notes. The caffeine level is relatively high.
Using a Coffee Maker
Can you put yerba mate in a coffee maker?
The tea is steeped in 160 to 180 degree water. The boiling temperature drops about a degree for every 100 feet altitude increased.
To brew in a coffee maker, add one tablespoon per cup water into a coffee filter and brew as normal coffee. Be careful not to overfill the filter.
First fill espresso machine handle with yerba mate. Lightly sprinkle a few drops cold water, pull shot. The ideal water temperature for brewing in a coffee maker is 160-170 degrees Fahrenheit. With a french press, adjust strength by choosing amount loose leaf used and steeping time from 1 to 3 minutes. Find best method for your liking.
Tereré is traditional cold-brewed tea. Refreshing iced spin for summer. Cold brewing preserves nutritional benefits.
Metal straw with holes filters out leaves but lets liquid come through. Variety mate cups available like glass, metal, stainless steel.
Both tea bags and loose leaf make great cup of tea. For loose leaf, measure amount. Steep up to 5 minutes then enjoy after cooling.
Why Not Boiling Water
Why not boiling water for yerba mate?
Mate is a drink made by steeping dried leaves from the yerba mate plant in hot water. It tastes somewhat like green tea, with hints of tobacco and oak. Use 170°F(77°C) water; boiling water is too hot.
You can make yerba mate with a tea strainer, tea pot, french press, or even a coffee maker. Simply use 1 tablespoon of yerba per 8 ounces of water, let it steep for 3-5 minutes. Never use boiling water. You can also drink yerba mate tea bags. Steep one tea bag per 8 ounces of water.
The traditional way to enjoy tea is to share the gourd (bowl) with friends and family. The person who prepares tea is called a “cebador” and he/she will pour the water into the gourd and pass it to each person in their turn.
The tea is known as the drink of the gods. It offers health benefits, including improved brain function and potential to prevent certain cancers. It gives an energy boost without side effects like trouble sleeping or nausea.
Generally, the tea is steeped in hot water, not boiling, around 160 to 180 degrees. Remember to always moisten yerba mate with cool water before pouring hot water. You can also enjoy yerba mate brewed cold.
The traditional way uses a gourd and bombilla filter straw. Other good methods are french presses, tea infusers, or cold brewing.