Using a Gourd
To make mate tea, soak leaves in hot water. Use a gourd and metal straw. First, fill gourd halfway with leaves. Shake gourd to bring powdery leaves to top. Add some cool water; let leaves swell. Next, fill with hot water. Insert metal straw and let tea steep. Drink tea by passing filled gourd around.
Benefits of Yerba Mate
Compared to other teas, mate offers unique flavors and health benefits. It provides caffeine without jitters. Mate is grown sustainably. With proper preparation techniques, you can enhance taste and preserve nutrients.
Other Preparation Methods
Options to make mate tea include teapot, French press, or electric kettle with infuser. You can also cold brew mate tea called tereré.
Preparing a New Gourd
To prepare new gourd, first soak in mate overnight. Keep adding hot water as gourd absorbs it. Gently peel inside walls. Finally, wash and dry fully before using. Proper cleaning after each use preserves flavors.
Filling the Gourd
How much yerba do you put in a gourd?
Filling the gourd to the brim intensifies the flavor and aroma, while leaving space allows for water flow regulation.
Personal preference plays a key role in adjusting the amount of mate to enhance your drinking experience.
Equipment Needed
To make mate traditionally, you need a gourd, loose leaf tea, hot water and your bombilla for filtering leaves from the gourd. The metal straw or bombilla is used to stir the mixture and drink the mate.
History
Yerba mate was originally developed by the Guarani people of South America. The traditional gourd is made from a fruit of a gourd vine, a calabash squash, which vary in shape and size and possess a very hard shell.
Summary
What is the best way to brew yerba mate?
Discover how to brew mate tea. This guide explains the traditional method. It also covers using a French press or tea bags. Follow these simple steps to brew mate the traditional way:
Steps
- First, choose the right gourd and bombilla to connect you to mate’s cultural heritage.
- Learn to elevate your tea ritual through meticulous ancient steps.
- Treat Mate like loose tea. Steep in 170°F water. Hotter water is bitter.
- Follow easy brewing guidelines. Add tea bags or loose leaves to water. Flavor to taste.
Additional Tips
- Use fresh spring water around 160-180 degrees. Tea infusers and balls also work. Cold brewing preserves nutrients.
- Covered methods include traditional, french press, tea bag, and cold brew. Can also mix in herbs to improve flavor. Traditional method uses bombilla and gourd.
Duration
How long can you keep yerba mate in gourd?
Some prepare terere by replacing hot water with cold water and ice.
Vessels
Calabash gourds are customary but any vessel works. Focus is on slowing down and connecting. Share the bombilla when drinking socially. Understand the ritual. Boiling water harms the properties. Optimal temperature is 160-180 Fahrenheit.
Initial Preparation
Before first use, fill gourd mostly full with hot water and leaves. Let sit for a day, continuing to add hot water as absorbed. Gently peel inner walls. Wash and dry fully before using again. Clean after each use.