Seven Ways to Prepare Yerba Mate

1
Seven Ways to Prepare Yerba Mate
2
Intro

• Yerba Mate is common in Argentina, Brazil,
  Uruguay and Paraguay.
• It contains less caffeine than coffee and is
  often compared to green tea.
• The South American beverage contains antioxidants
  and is gaining renown in North America as a
  healthy alternative to coffee.
• The beverage is traditionally sipped through a
  metal bombilla from a gourd but you have many
  options when it comes to drinking yerba mate.

3
1) Gourd and Bombilla

• The most common way to drink yerba mate.
• Mate is placed in the gourd which is filled with
  water.
• Tea becomes infused and is sipped through the
  metal bombilla which acts as both the straw and
  strainer.
• The gourd can be refilled ten or more times
  before the mate loses its flavor and potency (is
  said to be lavado).

4
1) Gourd and Bombilla

• Warm water is usually poured from a thermos which
  keeps the water hot (about 180 degrees F).
• Our preference is to use the gourd and bombilla
  but this is not always convenient. Especially if
  you are driving or are at your desk at work.

5
2) Mate Cocido in Tea Bags

• Yerba Mate in tea bags are commonly available
  online or in some grocery stores.
• Simply add a tea bag to a cup of hot water.
• Control the strength of the tea by adjusting the
  time it is steeped.

6
3) Brew in a Coffee Machine

• Believe it or not you can make a decent cup of
  yerba mate using a regular coffee machine.
• Simply add a few tablespoons of loose leaf yerba
  mate into the filter, add water and let it brew.

7
3) Brew in a Coffee Machine

• If you enjoy a strong tasting and potent yerba
  mate this is a good method of preparing the tea
  because you can add a much as you like and can
  even run the water through the tea twice.

8
4) French Press

• If you can brew mate in a coffee machine then why
  not a French press?
• Place tea at the bottom of the press, fill with
  hot water and allow to steep.

9
4) French Press

• When the tea is steeped to your preference, push
  down on the press slowly to concentrate the herb
  to the bottom of the glass. Then pour the tea
  into your favorite cup or mug.
• Adjust the amount of yerba mate and steeping time
  to adjust the strength of the tea.

10
5) Tea Infuser

• Just as you would prepare any loose leaf tea you
  can use a tea infuser.
• Fill the infuser about half way full of yerba
  mate and add to a cup of hot water.
• Good for a light cup of tea.

11
6) Sun Tea

• If you live in a warm or sunny area you can make
  tea on your front porch.
• Add yerba mate in tea bags or loose leaf yerba
  mate in an infuser to a large jug of water.
• Cover the jug so that no leaves or dust will get
  into the tea.
• Place in a sunny spot for most of the afternoon.
• The rays from the sun will steep your tea but the
  mate will not be hot so you may want to enjoy

12
7) Iced Yerba Mate

• On a warm day you may not be in the mood to sip a
  hot beverage.
• Enjoy an iced yerba mate by brewing up some tea
  in one of the methods above and place the tea in
  a refrigerator to cool.
• Once the liquid is cool, enjoy in a tall glass
  over ice.
• You can also enjoy cold yerba mate by simply
  adding cold water or lemonade to your gourd.

13
Additional information

• To find out more about yerba mate and browse our
  selection of Latin American foods, visit
  www.buenaondafoods.com.
• Our selection of yerba mate can be found on our
  web site.
• Recipes and ideas are added regularly to our
  blog.