Ingredients
- Mate leaves
- Mate gourd or cup
- Metal straw or bombilla
- 150-160°F hot water
Mate leaves are traditionally consumed in central and southern regions of South America, primarily in Paraguay, as well as in Argentina, Uruguay, southern and central-western Brazil, the Chaco region of Bolivia and southern Chile. Mate tea provides a unique, flavorful experience and a natural boost with sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Enjoy the smooth taste and aroma that will uplift your day.
When served cold, the drink is called tereré in Guaraní. The simplest method is to treat mate leaves like any other loose tea; steep it in hot water around 170°F and then filter out the leaves before drinking. Using boiling water will produce a bitter, inferior beverage.
Growing Mate Plants
The sprouting process takes six months. Once sprouted, the small mate plants grow in a nursery for two years and then are transplanted at level curves in the fields, with 3 x 1.5 meters between plants.
Brewing Method
To brew South American tea, you will need mate leaves, a mate gourd or mate cup, a metal straw or bombilla, and hot water between 150-160°F. Do not use boiling water, as it can burn the leaves. Place the mate leaves in the mate gourd or cup. Insert the metal straw. Pour the hot water over the leaves. Let it steep for at least one minute before drinking. You can add sweetener or milk if desired. The metal straw is used to stir the mate tea and drink it. The mate gourd or cup is usually made from a gourd or wood and decorated with designs.
You can also make mate tea using tea bags, a French press, or other tea infusers. Just add mate tea bags or loose leaves with hot water between 150-160°F. Let it steep for a few minutes before pressing or removing the leaves.
To make iced mate tea, use cool water instead of hot water. Let the mate tea steep in cool water overnight in the refrigerator before drinking. This cold brew method brings out the flavor while preserving nutrients.
For the strongest infusion, use a traditional gourd and bombilla. But you don’t need special equipment to enjoy South American tea. You likely already have devices like a French press, tea infuser, or coffee maker that will work. The key things are to use freshly heated water between 150-160°F and not to overfill filters so leaves have room to expand.
Health Benefits and Precautions
Drinking mate tea over time can provide health benefits from vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. On its own, it does not contain hallucinogens, but drinking mate tea on an empty stomach makes you more sensitive to caffeine. Be careful not to burn your throat with boiling water. Enjoy mate tea hot or cold for a caffeine boost from this nutrient-rich South American drink.