How do you get used to the taste of this tea?
The herbal drink can taste bitter. Add sweeteners like honey or sugar to balance the bitter taste. Using very hot water makes it taste more bitter. Instead, use warm water between 80-100 degrees Fahrenheit. Let the leaves absorb cool water first before adding the warm water. This helps bring out the flavors and prevents bitterness. It takes time for your palate to get used to the unique grassy, earthy taste.
Sweetening the Drink
How do you make the herbal infusion taste nice?
The traditional way to prepare it is to put the leaves in a gourd and add hot water. Another way to prepare it is to brew it like tea.
Although preparations vary, the culture transcends borders. The goddess proclaimed the plant a symbol of friendship, and today it is typically enjoyed communally.
Brewing at the right temperature can make all the difference in how it tastes. Brewing with boiling water will bring out more flavor, while cooler temperatures are better for those who want a milder taste.
I suggest buying a traditional gourd as it mellows with age and absorbs the taste. In South America there are special thermoses for drinking it to keep it hot.
Is the South American beverage supposed to taste bitter?
The bitterness that is typical for infusions is connected with a high content of tannins – the substance responsible for bitter taste. It may be also caused by other factors, e.g. the way of drying plants and preparing infusions.
- Third, it contains caffeine, which by itself is a very bitter element. It’s also part of the reason coffee tastes so bitter since it’s got the highest caffeine count of all things. So bitterness in your cup is something that just is.
Ideas for Sweetening
How do you make the drink sweeter?
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It tastes like green tea, with tobacco and oak hints. Treat it like a loose tea; steep then filter out leaves before drinking. The ideal temperature is 170°F (77°C). Boiling water is bitter.
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Many sweeten it with sugar, honey or sweeteners.
Try these ideas:
- Sweeten it. The infusion is almost astringent, begging for sweetness. For hot tea, honey dissolves well.
Follow three rules:
- Moisten leaves with cool water first.
- Never use boiling water—170F is ideal.
- Use a blend of cool and hot water. Don’t use boiling water, it makes it very bitter.