History
The leaves are made from a plant native to South America. The leaves are rich in caffeine and nutrients.
How to make tea
To brew:
- Use a French press or tea bags. Steep for 1-3 minutes. Longer steeping makes stronger tea.
- Add berries or bananas to make a smoothie.
For traditional preparation, use a gourd and straw. Add hot water between 150-175 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t use boiling water, as it makes the tea bitter.
Let it steep for a few minutes. Pour the through a strainer into cups. The leaves can be rebrewed a couple of times. Experiment by adding mint, chamomile or other herbs.
What is maté?
Maté is a drink made by steeping dried leaves from the maté plant in hot water. It tastes like green tea, with hints of tobacco and oak. The ideal brewing temperature for maté is approximately 170°F (77°C); using boiling water will produce a bitter drink.
How to prepare maté
To enjoy maté in the traditional way, prepare it properly:
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Equipment:
- Maté gourd
- Straw
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Fill the gourd two-thirds full with maté. Add cold water. Allow the maté to absorb the water.
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Next, add the hot water to the gourd. Use the straw to compress the maté.
Drinking maté is often a social experience.
Maté provides antioxidants, sodium, potassium and magnesium. It comes from the holly family native to South America.
Maté nutrition
How much caffeine is in maté?
Maté is a species of holly native to South America. The leaves and twigs are used to make a tea called maté. Maté contains caffeine, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
To brew maté, steep dried leaves in hot water (about 170°F) and then filter out the leaves before drinking. Maté can also be served cold, which is called tereré.
Customizing maté
What do you mix with maté?
Maté is a tea-like drink made by steeping dried leaves from a South American plant. The leaves are chopped then dried, roasted and aged before being steeped in hot water to make the drink.
Fill a gourd or cup halfway with maté leaves. Shake the gourd to settle the leaves along one side. Pour warm water (not boiling) onto the leaves. Refill the gourd with water as desired.
Maté has an earthy, herbal flavor, often compared to green tea. Flavors can be enhanced by adding herbs like mint or fruits.