The herbal infusion can be re-steeped up to 10 times before losing flavor. The drinks can be served differently after their preparation, too.
Add cold water to the mate before you put the hot water in is optional; but it prevents the mate from being burned if you use very hot water.
Tereré
Tereré is a traditional cold-brewed mate tea. Tereré is incredibly refreshing on a hot day. The most notable difference between tereré and hot mate tea is that tereré is prepared using cold water, sometimes mixed with fruit juice.
When you drink such mate, water will not penetrate all the mountain straight away, and you will gradually wash it out in larger quantities of refills and water, getting the best durability out of your favorite mate. With a bombilla you will never encounter clogging.
The herbal infusion can be steeped multiple times. The steeping duration influences flavor extraction. Typically, the first steep lasts around 5 minutes. Brewing mate is meant to be savored slowly.
Making amazing mate is very easy after a time or two. Different people have different advice on the do’s and don’ts of making the perfect one. Play with the amount of mate, mates, and bombillas to find what works for you.
South Americans safely drink 1–4 liters of mate per day. In the U.S., Canada, and Europe, avid drinkers consume at least 1–2 liters per day. Mate is an herbal tea made from the dried leaves and twigs of the mate plant.
Avoid constant consumption. Drink 2 – 3 beverages at most per day. Avoid drinking mate in the evening, especially if caffeine sensitive. Mate is packed with vitamins. It has hotly contested health benefits and side effects.
When brewing with a strainer instead of a gourd and bombilla, use 1 tablespoon of mate per 8 ounces of water. You can get 250 servings from one kilo of mate. One pack can last over half a year when consumed daily.
Mate was possibly linked to prestige in indigenous cultures. Properly stored mate can last 1-2 years. It’s best stored in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
The herbal infusion gives energy and is good for you. Its flavor can be liked from the first try. It is an alternative to coffee in South America.
The harvest occurs every 2 years. The trees are ready at 4-6 years old. They are harvested in a rotating system for consistent supply while allowing regrowth.
Some studies indicate that people who drink large amounts of mate over long periods may be at increased risk of some types of cancer, such as cancer of the mouth, throat and lungs.
When taken in large amounts or for long periods of time, mate is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. It increases the risk of mouth, esophageal, laryngeal, kidney, bladder, and lung cancer. Mate is a natural plant like any other tea you drink or vegetable you eat. Of course, too much of one thing is almost never good either.
As Mayo clinic suggests, people who drink mate occasionally do not suffer from diseases, but if you drink it regularly for a more extended period, you may be at the risk of developing the risks of diseases like cancer of mouth, esophagus or lungs.
Healthy mate is bitter mate. The absolute truth now is that there is no proof that drinking mate can cause cancer in any way. It has, however, been observed that drinking large amounts of hot liquids over long periods of time may lead to esophageal cancer.
Does the herbal infusion get you buzzed?
The South American tea has a strong earthy flavor with a grassy, mildly bitter undertone and a eucalyptus scent. The steeping duration greatly influences the flavor. Typically, the first steep is the longest, lasting around 5 minutes.
Mate was first cultivated and used by the indigenous Guaraní people and some Tupí communities in southern Brazil, prior to European colonization. It has the same caffeine as coffee but does not make the drinker jittery. It has adaptogenic properties, regulating the body’s systems. People can drink mate all day long, from morning to evening, even before bed.