The Mate Vessel
Mate is a tea made from the leaves of a South American holly tree called Ilex paraguariensis. This caffeine-rich drink is commonly consumed in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and parts of Brazil.
To prepare mate, dried leaves are placed in a gourd or cup called a mate. The mate is then filled with hot (not boiling) water. A metal straw with a filter tip, known as a bombilla, is used to drink the infusion.
Drinking Mate Socially
Mate can be consumed in a variety of ways – hot, cold, sweetened, or plain. However, the traditional ritual of sharing mate promotes social bonding. The mate cup is refilled with hot water and passed around a circle from one person to another. Accepting an offer of mate is considered a sign of friendship and respect.
Components for Drinking Mate
There are 4 main components that make up drinking mate:
- Gourd – The basic cup (drinking device) is made from a gourd.
- Metal Straw (bombilla) – A metal straw is placed into it to strain the leaves so you can easily suck up just the brewed tea.
- Looseleaf yerba – Instead of straining normal tea (or using a teabag), yerba is placed into a gourd.
- Hot water – Hot water (80 – 100 degree F / 27 – 38 degrees C) is poured in to the top.
That’s all you need to start drinking mate, especially if you’re a beginner.
More On Drinking Mate
When it comes to drinking mate, there’s more to it than just the ideal temperature and serving size. Drinking mate is a social experience that involves sharing with friends, passing the gourd, and following traditional customs.
Can You Drink Mate from a Normal Cup?
- Gourd (basic cup/drinking device). It can be simple or elaborately designed.
- Metal straw (bombilla) with a filter to strain the leaves so you can easily sip the brewed tea.
There are a few ways to prepare mate: traditionally (gourd, bombilla, loose-leaf), french press, tea bags, strainer, coffee machine. With its rise outside South America, there may be other ways too.
Add 1-2 TBS of mate to a mug. Moisten the herb with cool water. Add 8 oz of 170°F water. Steep 5 minutes. Flavor to taste. How long do you soak mate? Steep three to five minutes in less-than-boiling water, and enjoy your mate.
When drinking from a mug, you can refill it as many times as needed until all the flavor is gone. This can range from 10 to 20 refills. Is mate healthier than green tea? Mate has a higher antioxidant concentration than green tea. This makes it superior for preventing oxidative stress.
You can easily prepare mate tea at home. Just place leaves in your mug, pour in hot water and wait a few minutes. For convenience, get a mate tea bag to toss into your favorite mug. While commonly consumed hot, mate is sometimes served cold, especially in very hot climates.