Can you mix it with milk? Adding milk to your mate can give your drink more nutrients. The herbal tea is nutritious and adding milk can heighten its benefits. There are two proteins in milk: casein and whey. So adding milk makes a healthy mix and reduces bitterness.
Some prefer cold-brewed yerba mate. Some like the convenience of a tea bag or a latte with milk. Yet others prefer the classic way of brewing it with a gourd and straw. However, many people now use French presses for convenience and a different flavor. Simply place the leaves into the French press filter. Add simmering 150 F water. Let steep and enjoy.
The herbal drink is from South America, popular for its taste and health benefits like: antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, increased immune function and some caffeine. Studies show no direct link between moderate intake and reducing breast milk production.
To make a latte, use a strainer, milk, and looseleaf. Sweeten if desired. Steep the leaves in hot milk and enjoy. Customize it to make a basic, fancy or chai latte.
It can also be prepared in a tea cup, teapot or coffee maker, using convenient tea bags or loose leaf. Pyramid tea bags allow more room for the leaves to infuse, making a flavorful brew.
Steep the South American plant for three to five minutes in water below boiling point. However, hot or cold water, milk or juice can also be used.
The simplest way is to treat it like any tea. Steep it in 77°C water then filter out leaves before drinking. It tastes like green tea with tobacco and oak hints. Using too much or drinking large amounts daily for years increases some cancer risks.
You can use any tea making method. Use one tablespoon of leaves per 8oz water. Steep 3-5 minutes. You can also try tea bags to start. It takes practice to prepare well so beginners make mistakes.
How do I get the most out of my yerba mate?
Yerba 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. The simplest method for many is to treat yerba mate like any other tea, steeping it in hot water for a few minutes before drinking. However, the most common way of drinking yerba mate is to continuously sip it for several hours, adding more leaves or water as necessary.
To prepare yerba mate in the traditional way, you’ll need a mate gourd and a metal straw called a bombilla. Start by filling the gourd about two-thirds full with yerba mate leaves. Tilt the gourd on its side and shake the leaves to one side. Place the bombilla over the leaves with its filter end facing down to preserve a gap. Pour some cold water in the gap to allow the yerba mate to absorb it first before adding hot water. Then fill the gourd the rest of the way with hot water around 175°F – not boiling. Drink the infusion by sipping it through the bombilla. Add more hot water as needed.
The traditional method creates a social experience of passing the mate gourd around a group. You can also prepare yerba mate solo in a French press. Experiment with different steeping times and amounts of yerba mate until you find your preferred strength. Some ways to enhance the flavor include adding honey, cinnamon, ginger, mint leaves, or nut milk like almond or coconut. Iced yerba mate, called tereré, is another refreshing alternative using cold water instead of hot.
In terms of health effects, yerba mate contains less caffeine than coffee but enough to provide an energizing lift. However, drinking large amounts for long periods may be unsafe. Moderation is key – 2 to 3 mate beverages per day is reasonable. Also avoid drinking yerba mate too late in the evening if you are sensitive to caffeine.
The leaves and twigs are dried and steeped in hot water to make an herbal tea. It can be served hot or cold. The infusion is prepared by filling a container with dry leaves and twigs, then adding water at 158-176°F. This temperature is hot but does not boil the water.
The first steep of yerba mate lasts around 5 minutes, extracting initial flavors. Subsequent steeps are shorter at 2-3 minutes, revealing deeper flavors. Up to 10 steeps are possible before losing flavor.
Yerba mate has a strong, bitter, vegetal taste. Like coffee, it can require acquiring the taste. It is often sipped continuously for hours, adding more hot water or leaves as needed.
Drinking yerba mate socially while relaxing in nature is part of the tradition. Passing one gourd and straw creates bonding.
To make cold-brewed yerba mate or tereré, use cold water sometimes mixed with fruit juice or herbs. It is refreshing on hot days.
Enjoying the authentic ritual requires a thermos of hot water, loose yerba mate, a straw, and a cured gourd. Fill the gourd two-thirds with yerba mate then add hot water. Pass it around to share.