by Janelle Wazorick
January 29, 2020
When it comes to tea, there is no shortage of new flavors to try. Almost every culture has a tea tradition, whether it's from the tea bush camellia sinensis or an infusion of local herbs. Just when you think you've savored every tea you can get your hands on, you discover a new variety of tea. While browsing for new teas, you spy something different nestled between familiar flavors: Yerba Mate (or Mate for short). Your tea journey is about to get more interesting as you delve into the fascinating world of this traditional South American beverage.
What is Mate?
Mate (pronounced ma-tay) is an herbal tea popular throughout South America, notably in Argentina. It is harvested from the
Yerba Mate plant and then dried, chopped, and ground before brewing. Different kinds of mate can come in a variety of flavors and intensities: for example, some mates include twigs and stems for a woodsier taste, others are aged for a stronger taste, others are toasted before brewing, and some even have other ingredients added to the blend. Traditionally, mate is brewed in a hollowed-out gourd and drunk through a metal straw with a built-in strainer called a bombilla. Similar to the Japanese Tea Ceremony, mate is often shared with a group of friends as a social occasion where the group drinks from the same gourd and bombilla. There is also a special set of instructions for properly preparing the beverage and serving it to the guests.
How to Prepare
To prepare mate traditionally with a gourd and bombilla, fill the gourd about two thirds full with the mate leaves. Then cover the gourd with your hand and tilt and shake the gourd to create an opening among the leaves. Insert the straw into the opening and pour in a little cold water to help prepare the leaves and gourd for the hot water and to prevent cracking the gourd. Then pour hot water (about 158 to 176 degrees Fahrenheit) into the gourd. The mate is now ready to drink, however, you can also add other ingredients on top for additional flavors.
If you do not have a gourd or bombilla, you're in luck! Yerba Mate can be brewed the same way as any typical tea. While mate does come in tea bags, you can brew loose mate in a teapot, coffee maker, or with a French press. Simply brew the yerba mate leaves in 158 to 176 degrees Fahrenheit water for around three to five minutes. Then, remove the leaves and enjoy!
The Different Flavors of Mate
Straight Yerba Mate is very similar to green tea: it's high in tannins (a particular set of proteins and amino acids) which yields an astringent brew. Yerba mate is also sensitive to high water temperatures like green tea: pay close attention to water temperature while brewing yerba mate to avoid a bitter drink. Once brewed, yerba mate will have a very mild flavor that is great to enjoy on
its own or with added flavors.
Yerba Mate can also be roasted for a
toasty brew. It can be purchased pre-roasted or can be roasted at home in the oven with regular yerba mate leaves. Toasted Yerba Mate can be described as similar to coffee, making it an excellent coffee alternative. The brew is a dark brown liquor with a warm, slightly smoky flavor.
While delicious by itself, yerba mate can also be complemented with additional flavors.
Citrus peels, such as orange or lemon, are popular ingredients in yerba mate blends and can be purchased pre-blended or added once the mate has been prepared. The citrus adds a very pleasant aroma and sweet taste to the mate.
Coffee and
mocha flavors can be added to mate for an additional kick. Reminiscent of blended mocha drinks, a blend of mocha, chocolate, and mate has a very rich, decadent flavor. It's warm, chocolatey, has a mild coffee essence, and would blend perfectly with milk for a grown-up version of hot chocolate on a winter's night.
Mate is a very versatile beverage and accepts a variety of flavors. Try adding herbs such as peppermint and rooibos to a mate blend. For a sweeter beverage, add sugar and honey. A fan of iced tea? Mate can even be brewed with cold water to refresh yourself from the summer heat. The possibilities are endless, and you'll never find yourself bored with how many flavors of mate you can come up with. Grab a gourd and sip on!