In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about using and preparing this drink, including how to use a mate cup, how to drink it from a regular cup or mug, and the best way to drink it with or without a bombilla straw. We’ll also cover how to prepare it in a gourd, what a mate straw is called, and why mate is traditionally drunk with a straw.
About This Tea
So you heard about this tea but don’t know the best way to get started. Well what if you could have a veteran drinker show you the ropes? If that sounds nice to you, then you’re in the right place.
This plant is found in South America. Its leaves are brewed to make a stimulating, caffeinated beverage. Referred to as the “drink of the Gods”, in some regions, it is even more popular than coffee. That is wild grown is most desirous, because it is free from growth chemicals. It is also possible to cultivate it without chemicals; organic is the healthier path to choose.
The most common way of drinking this tea is to continuously sip it, for several hours and adding more leaves or water as necessary. Each steep releases more flavor and nutrients. This drink is enjoyed in a social gathering. Meeting up in parks or in very beautiful and calm parts of nature is part of the tradition and ritual of drinking this tea.
This tea has a unique taste that is often described as earthy, herbaceous, and slightly bitter. Some people also detect hints of smokiness or sweetness, depending on the variety and how it’s prepared.
Mate cups come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. Mate gourd is also called calabaza or porongo.
This tea contains caffeine, which provides an energy boost without the jitters or crash associated with coffee. It is also gaining popularity due to its sustainable production practices. Unlike other crops that require water and pesticides to grow, trees are grown organically in forests. This helps preserve the environment while supporting local communities.
Is it OK to drink this tea everyday?
Most research suggests that drinking one cup per day is safe for healthy adults. Some studies link it to health benefits like improved cholesterol, weight loss, heart health, and cancer risk. But more research is needed.
South Americans often drink 1-4 liters of this tea per day safely. Avid drinkers in the U.S., Canada, and Europe may consume 1-2 liters daily. The amount you can drink comes down to your personal tolerance.
This tea provides an energy boost from its caffeine content but may cause side effects in excess like other caffeinated foods and drinks. If you experience signs of caffeine overdose, reduce your intake.
To prepare mate, first fill 3⁄4 of the gourd with the leaves. Then, put your palm on top, shake it to mix the dust with the other particles, which are medium and large-sized leaves and sticks. Tilt the mate cup at a 45° angle to leave space for water. The temperature should be between 167°F and 194°F. Place a bombilla, a metal straw with a filter, in the cup which is passed around in a circle and shared between friends and family.
This drink comes from the leaves of a holly plant found in the South American rainforest.
The traditional way to drink it involves only a few components: a gourd, a metal straw (or bombilla), a bag of leaves, and a thermos of hot water. All you have to do is put a heaping pile of leaves into the gourd, add some hot water, and sip through the straw.
There are many ways of drinking this tea. Generally the options depend on the liquid you add, but also if you decide to add, for example, sugar. Cold water, juice and even milk are used to serve the mate. The most important thing is that, when you drink mate for the first time, you enjoy it so much that you won’t stop drinking it.
How to Get the Most Out of This Tea
Before you read anything else in this post, you need to get your equipment together.
Properly prepared mate is designed to be balanced during the whole drinking session, as the water touches the leaves partially, eventually using it all over the time as you pour more and more water.
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Do use the correct water temperature. Too cool water will not properly extract the flavors and nutrients. Water that is too hot will burn the leaves, resulting in bitterness. The ideal temperature is around 160-180 F.
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Avoid drinking this tea in the evening, especially if you’re sensitive to caffeine.
There are 4 main components for drinking This Tea:
1) Gourd
2) Bombilla straw
3) Hot water
4) Leaves.
The gourd is filled partially with dry leaves then hot water is poured over them. The bombilla straw is inserted into the mixture to sip the infusion. More hot water can be added and sipped until the flavor diminishes. Then the used leaves can be discarded and the process started over with fresh leaves.
The caffeine content is similar to coffee, around 85mg per 8oz serving. But it also contains other beneficial compounds that work synergistically to provide a balanced stimulation, without the “crash” sometimes associated with coffee drinking.
So give this tea a try if you are looking for a natural energizing alternative to coffee or energy drinks! It’s quite popular in parts of South America, with entire aisles devoted to the many brands available. Sharing mate in a circle with friends and family is a cherished social tradition there.