Brewing Time
One of South America’s most social infusions, mate—not technically a tea, but derived instead from the rainforest holly plant Ilex paraguariensis—is a flavorful departure from other steeped drinks. The best way to brew it is by following recommendations from brands or using iterative methods until you find what matches your taste. However, the average brewing time ranges between 2-5 minutes.
Instead of warm water, add cool water on leaves then refrigerate overnight; yielding all properties with reduced bitterness and better floral notes. Traditional methods involve careful rituals during sessions (passear). The desired amount is that it reaches half of the mate.
You can make it just how you make other teas. Use 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces of water, let it steep for 3-5 minutes. You can also drink bags. Steep one bag per 8 ounces of water.
Avoid constant consumption, 2-3 beverages at most, through to the late afternoon. Avoid evening drinking, especially if sensitive to caffeine.
Water Temperature
Why not boiling water for yerba mate?
It is steeped in hot water, not boiling, at 160 to 180 degrees. If you don’t have a kettle with temperature control, remember that at sea level water simmers at 190 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. The general rule is not to exceed 180oF. Anything over 185oF stresses the mate. What’s a cycle? A cycle is each time you fill the gourd and drink to the last slurp.
The ideal steeping time is 3-5 minutes at 160-180°F. Water temperature and hardness impact taste. To enhance flavor, I’ve discovered tricks like adding mint.
The taste of water should not overpower it. Use filtered water if possible. There are many articles on the right temperature but no consensus. What if water is too cold? You can drink it cold, called tereré, but it’s not the same. By using quality leaves and optimal temperature you can enjoy delicious mate anytime.
Hot vs Cold
Is it better to drink yerba mate hot or cold?
The leaves are used to make a tea called mate. Mate can be served hot or cold. People have different preferences for drinking temperature. You may prefer 160°F or 180°F.
The traditional method for preparing mate uses a gourd and a metal straw called a bombilla. Put the leaves in the gourd then insert the bombilla. This straw strains out the leaves so you can easily drink the tea. Other preparation methods include using a French press, tea bags, or cold brewing.
Best Brewing Methods
What is the best way to brew yerba mate?
It is made by steeping dried leaves from the plant in hot water. Using boiling water will produce a bitter, inferior beverage.
The simplest method is to treat it like any other loose tea – steep it in hot water and then filter out the leaves before drinking.
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Start by adding 1-2 tablespoons of leaves per 8 oz of water. Moisten the leaves with a small amount of cool water first to protect the nutrients. Then add 170°F water and let steep for 3-5 minutes. Flavor as desired.
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Variations:
- Cold brew overnight in the fridge
The traditional method uses a gourd (maté) and bombilla (filtered straw). This is the classic ritual for drinking it socially.
No matter which preparation method you choose, it has a bold, earthy flavor with hints of tobacco and oak. It provides caffeine for sustained energy and focus as well as numerous health benefits. Experiment to find your ideal temperature and steeping time. The versatility makes it easy to enjoy hot or cold any time of day.