Yerba mate is a traditional South American tea native to Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. It has a distinctive, earthy aroma and flavor which can easily become an acquired taste, and also packs a caffeine "punch" similar to that of coffee. To maximize your enjoyment of yerba mate, follow the traditional method of brewing the tea--a process that is simple--keeping a few key points in mind.
Step 1
Get the right utensils for the unique process of brewing yerba mate tea: a drinking gourd and bombilla straw. Retailers specializing in organic and international foods and beverages generally carry yerba mate tea, sometimes offering gourds and bombillas. You can also order everything you need as a complete kit from a variety of online tea vendors, including Guayaki and Gevalia (see Resources).
Step 2
Heat filtered or tap water to boiling in a traditional mate caldera kettle, or use a simple tea kettle from which you can easily pour. Turn off the heat after the water reaches boiling. Ensure that you prepare a full kettle of hot water because brewing a gourd of yerba mate tea requires two or more gourds' worth of water. While the water is heating, set aside another small pitcher or measuring cup of cold water for later use in the process.
Step 3
Insert the bombilla--filtered end down--into the gourd. Add a serving of yerba mate tea leaves to the bottom of the gourd, tilting the gourd slightly so the tea rests slightly to one side. Slowly pour a small amount of cold water to the side opposite the tea leaves, allowing the water to evenly mix with the leaves. Give the mate leaves a minute or two to thoroughly absorb the cold water and to become moist and full.
Step 4
Pour hot--but not boiling--water from your caldera or tea kettle into the gourd. Fill enough hot water to reach just below the mouth of the gourd. Sip from the bombilla straw several times to soften the strong flavor of the initial brew, then add more hot water to refill the gourd. Repeat this process as needed--or skip it entirely if you prefer your yerba mate with a potent taste.
Step 5
Sip from the bombilla to enjoy your freshly brewed yerba mate tea. You can savor the tea alone, or share it with someone else or even a small group, because yerba mate is a tea traditionally shared among friends or family, passed in a circle. If you want to share yerba mate in separate gourds, carefully fill a thermal container with the tea, adding more hot water to make as much as you'd like. One serving of mate can go a long way, so you won't need to add more tea leaves until the brew becomes diluted.
Things You'll Need
- Yerba mate tea leaves
- Mate gourd
- Bombilla straw
- Caldera or tea kettle
- Measuring glass or cup
- Thermos
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