What is mate?
Yerba mate is a plant that grows in South America. To make mate tea, use dried leaves of this plant. Steep the tea for 1 to 3 minutes. You can adjust strength by changing the amount of leaves and steeping time. For cold mate tea called tereré, brew it with cold water instead of hot water.
Steeping time
The longer you steep mate, the more intense the flavor. Short steeps make smoother, milder tea. Try different steeping times to find your favorite flavor.
Amount to use
Use about half the mate gourd with leaves. Using too much or too little affects flavor. The traditional way to drink mate is from a mate gourd with a metal straw. This method keeps all the nutrients.
Health effects
Mate has caffeine like coffee and tea. It also has health benefits. But drinking too much for too long can increase cancer risk. Be careful with other stimulants like ephedrine.
Popularity
This South American herb is popular. People use it to make drinks. The caffeine in mate gives energy.
Steeping guidelines
Steep between 1-3 minutes. Longer steeping makes stronger flavor. Steep overnight for very strong flavor. Adjust time to your taste.
Serving styles
Drink mate right away in the traditional style. With a French press, steep 1-3 minutes. Experiment to find your preferred method.
Amount of mate
Use half the mate gourd with leaves. Too much tastes bad. The right amount makes good flavor.
Benefits and cautions
Mate has benefits like tea. It also has caffeine like coffee. The effects depend on the amount you drink. Too much can cause side effects.
About mate
Mate is native to South America, where its dried leaves are used to make a tea-like beverage called mate. Traditionally shared among friends from a hollow gourd using a metal straw.
How to prepare
- Add mate leaves to the gourd and pour in cool water first. Then add hot – but not boiling – water, as very high temperatures make the drink bitter. Let steep for around 3 minutes before drinking through the straw. The leaves can be re-steeped several times, releasing more flavor and nutrients with each infusion.
Cultural importance
The ritual of preparing and sharing mate promotes social bonds much like afternoon tea. While health claims vary, mate likely provides a gentler caffeine boost compared to coffee, plus antioxidants for an overall lift.
Flavor
Mate tastes like green tea, with hints of tobacco and oak. To enjoy mate traditionally, prepare it as below.
Ingredients
- Mate
- Hot, but not boiling, water
Directions
- Add mate to a gourd or cup. Moisten leaves with cool water first to protect nutrients.
- Then add hot water and steep for 3-5 minutes.
- Drink with bombilla straw to filter out leaves.
You can also make mate similar to loose leaf tea. Simply use 1 tablespoon mate per 8 ounces water. Steep 3-5 minutes. Never use boiling water as it makes the tea bitter.
Consumption guidelines
Drink 1-2 liters mate tea per day. Add honey, creamer, mint, ginger or orange peel to improve flavor. To make stronger tea, use more mate or steep longer between 1-3 minutes.
What is mate?
Mate is made from the leaves and twigs of the Ilex paraguariensis plant native to South America. It contains caffeine and is traditionally consumed in central and southern regions of South America.