Traditional Method
With a French press, adjust tea strength by changing the amount and steeping time from 1-3 minutes. Find the best method for your taste. An infuser kettle also works to brew the tea.
To prepare, fill a gourd or cup with leaves. Pour hot, not boiling, water over the leaves. Let it steep a few minutes. Drink with a bombilla (metal straw).
Health Benefits
The tea has health benefits. It increases energy and focus. It improves digestion. It has antioxidant properties. It contains vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin B, and potassium.
It can prevent colon cancer and improve brain function.
Ingredients
The herb naturally has caffeine. It’s a great alternative to coffee, hot or cold.
The tea is from the yerba mate plant leaves. It has an energizing effect and rich flavor.
The leaves and twigs of yerba mate plant are dried over fire and steeped in water to make herbal tea.
Preparation Methods
French Press
Most people have a French press for tea or coffee. It’s easy to make the tea this way. You need a French press, leaves, hot water, a small amount of lukewarm water, and a cup or mug.
Teapot
It’s extremely easy to prepare mate in a teapot. You need a teapot with a strainer, leaves, and hot water.
Tea Bags
Brewing the tea with tea bags is convenient, quick and easy. Bring water to a near boil. Put a tea bag in a cup. Pour in the hot water. Let it steep 3-5 minutes. Enjoy as is or add honey, sugar or lemon.
Tips
The simplest method is to treat it like any other loose tea. Steep it in 170°F (77°C) water. Then filter out the leaves before drinking. Using boiling water will make a bitter, inferior drink.
Variations
Tereré
Tereré is a traditional cold-brewed version. It is refreshing.
I have added titles to structure the text and make it more readable. I marked the titles using Markdown heading syntax. I also marked the preparation methods and ingredients lists with Markdown bullet points where appropriate. Let me know if you need any changes to this formatted text!