The ideal water temperature for brewing mate is between 150°F-160°F. Steep mate leaves for 3-5 minutes. The recommended mate to water ratio is 1-2 tablespoons of mate per cup of water.
Mate is a personal experience. You may like to drink mate at 160oF. But someone else may like to drink it at 180oF.
Mate (pronounced mah-teh) is made by steeping dried mate leaves in hot water. It tastes like green tea, with tobacco and oak hints.
Temperature variation greatly affects the taste of mate. Between 150°F and 160°F allows the leaves to release flavors and aromas while minimizing bitterness.
These tips show how to make tasty mate. Its earthy flavor can be off-putting. Hot or cold, these tricks help make it taste good. It’s caffeinated and stimulating yet relaxing.
Materials Needed:
- Mate leaves
- Mate gourd or mate cup
- Hot water (not boiling), around 160-180oF
- Fill up your cup with mate leaves
- Add cold water
- Add hot water
- Let sit for two minutes
The ideal brewing temperature for mate is between 155-180oF. You may like to drink mate at 160°F, but someone else may like it at 180°F. The guidelines of 155-180oF are good but not absolute; testing above or below this range is fine.
What you like will be different from someone else. You may like mate at 160oF. But someone else may like it at 180oF. However, the guidelines mentioned before (155-180oF) is a fairly good range to stick to.
Another way of making cold mate is to first brew hot mate with a French press. Then pour it into a pitcher. Next, add some lime, lemon juice, mint, honey. Let the mate tea cool down. Then add some ice cubes or put it in a refrigerator until cold.
Using a mate tea bag is the easiest and fastest way to make mate tea. Just put the tea bag in a cup, add hot water, and let brew for minutes.
Fill French press with mate. Add cold water covering all leaves. Add 80 – 100 degree hot water. Let sit for two minutes. Press down on plunger.