Best way to prepare your Yerba Mate Tea

You might have heard about Yerba Mate. This herbal tea is gaining popularity worldwide, and people are now switching to this beverage for its unique flavor and numerous health benefits. In this blog post, we will provide you with a complete guide on Yerba Mate, its benefits, and the best ways to prepare it.

What is Yerba Mate?

Yerba Mate is a herbal tea made from the leaves and twigs of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. It is a traditional drink of South American countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. The plant contains caffeine, theobromine, and other beneficial compounds that give it a unique flavor and numerous health benefits.

Benefits and Traditional Use

Yerba Mate is rich in antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that provide numerous health benefits. It can help boost your immune system, improve digestion, and reduce stress levels. In South American countries, Yerba Mate is a social drink that people share with their friends and family. It is believed to promote social bonding and strengthen relationships.

How to Prepare Yerba Mate Tea

There are different ways to prepare Yerba Mate tea, depending on your preference and availability of tools. In this section, we will provide you with a guide on the traditional way, an easy and fast way, and how to turn Yerba Mate into a soft drink.

Traditional Way

To prepare Yerba Mate tea in a traditional way, you will need a gourd, a bombilla (a straw with a filter at the end), and loose Yerba Mate leaves. Follow the steps below:

1. Fill the gourd with Yerba Mate leaves, filling up to three-quarters of the gourd.
2. Tilt the gourd and shake it gently to move the finer leaves to one side.
3. Add cold water to the gourd, filling it up to the top.
4. Wait for a few seconds to allow the water to soak into the leaves.
5. Insert the bombilla into the Yerba Mate, ensuring that it reaches the bottom of the gourd.
6. Pour hot water (70-80°C) into the gourd, avoiding the bombilla.
7. Sip the Yerba Mate through the bombilla and pass the gourd around.

Easy and Fast Way

To prepare Yerba Mate tea in an easy and fast way, you will need Yerba Mate tea bags or a French press. Follow the steps below:

1. If using Yerba Mate tea bags, add one tea bag into a cup. If using a French press, add two to three tablespoons of Yerba Mate into the press.
2. Boil water (70-80°C) and pour it into the cup or French press.
3. Wait for five minutes for the tea to steep.
4. Remove the tea bag or press the plunger down.
5. Add honey, sugar, or milk if desired.

Yerba Mate Soft Drink

To turn Yerba Mate into a soft drink, you will need a blender, Yerba Mate leaves, water, and sweeteners like honey or sugar. Follow the steps below:

1. Boil a cup of water (70-80°C) and add two to three tablespoons of Yerba Mate leaves.
2. Let the mixture cool down to room temperature.
3. Strain the Yerba Mate leaves and pour the liquid into a blender.
4. Add sweeteners like honey or sugar to the blender.
5. Blend the mixture until it becomes frothy.
6. Pour the mixture into a glass and serve chilled.

History and recent research