So you heard about this popular South American drink but don’t know the best way to get started. That’s all you need to start drinking the tea, especially if you’re a beginner.
The straw – or bombilla – has a screened filter on one end to keep out small bits of leaves.
And while it does contain caffeine, it also has other natural compounds that work together to provide a unique and balanced effect on the body and mind. So if you’re looking for a healthier alternative to coffee or energy drinks, give it a try!
Whenever you drink it you need hot water – and not just a single cup, but a full bottle supply. It’s easiest to boil water and put it into a thermos. The drink not only tastes great, but it’s also a very social beverage. If you partake with a group, there’s just one gourd and one person who pours. Hot water is poured and the gourd is passed to drink the entire thing and pass it back to pourer.
Preparing and Drinking Mate
In this guide, we’ll go over everything to know about using and preparing the drink, including how to drink it with or without a bombilla straw and how to prepare it in a gourd. We’ll also cover what a mate straw is called and why mate is traditionally drunk with a straw.
Do your best to make a half-moon sitting on bottom of gourd and free space at the top. Insert the bombilla, and lay it flat over the leaves. Pour in hot water but if you have mountain of dry leaves to the side avoid getting wet.
Avoid constant consumption, 2 – 3 beverages at most, which should last through to late afternoon. The good news is it packed with vitamins.
It’s not like coffee or tea to drink all at once, but it’s an infusion that lasts hours. Fill mate cup with 3⁄4 leaves. Add little warm water for leaves to swell. Enjoy.
Grab the drink, add herb into frenchpress, teapot, or traditional mate gourd, then enjoy. That’s all you need to start drinking it, especially if beginner.
The traditional way to drink involves a gourd (mate in Spanish), metal straw (bombilla), leaves, and thermos of hot water. Put heaping pile of leaves into gourd, add hot water, sip through straw. All you have to do is explore process of preparing it consumed in specific manner that adds charm.
Rules for Drinking Mate
The leaves are used to make a tea called yerba mate. It has a unique flavor and is known to provide an energetic boost.
Yerba mate can be prepared and consumed in several ways. Traditionally, the mate leaves are placed in a gourd and steeped with hot water. The gourd has a metal straw with a filter on the end to strain out leaves while drinking. This method allows sharing the gourd with friends by passing it around.
Yerba mate tea can also be made using tea bags for individual servings. It’s important not to overconsume yerba mate or drink late in the day as it does contain caffeine. Enjoying the tea in moderation with friends is considered ideal.
How People Drink Mate Socially
It has a unique flavor and provides energizing effects. Sharing yerba mate socially is an important part of Argentinean culture and tradition. There are rules to follow when drinking in a mate circle.
The leaves are dried, aged and roasted before being ground into a tea-like consistency. It can provide an energy boost without causing jitters or crashes like coffee.
While yerba mate has potential health benefits, drinking large amounts for long periods may increase cancer risk. Moderation is advised, with 2-3 mate drinks per day being typical. Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should use caution or avoid mate due to its caffeine content.
When sharing mate, the server typically refills the gourd with water and passes it around the circle. Each person drinks the mate completely before passing the gourd back to be refilled. There are rituals and etiquette rules around preparing and sharing mate socially.