What it is Yerba Mate?
Yerba mate (yerbamate) is a typical South American drink, one of the most popular in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. Also in Europe, yerba mate is becoming increasingly popular, whether as a natural energy drink, appetite suppressant during a diet or simply because it tastes good. Mate- tea offers you a wide range of yerba mate varieties from the best and most famous brands in South America.
About Mate-tea
It is considered the national drink of the continent and has now also become popular in different variations in our country. Drinking mate tea is thirst-quenching and refreshing and is often celebrated as a ritual.
The cultivation of mate bushes is in the blood of South Americans. Revered as a drink of the gods, the holly was already made into a beverage by the indigenous people – the Guaraní. Today, the bush often grows wild or cultivated on plantations. When a new mate bush is planted, it takes four years until the first harvest. In the meantime, it must be cut back and protected from strong sunlight, especially in the beginning. After picking the green leaves, they are dried and then crushed.
Here, my friend explains to you how to prepare Yerba Mate properly:
The perfect preparation
The most important things you need for drinking mate tea are:
- High quality mate tea
- a calabash
- a bombilla
- warm (70°C – 80°C) or ice cold water
- For a mate tea, fill the vessel up to ¾ full with dried leaves. Put the bombilla in and pour the water. Do not stir the infusion so that the leaves settle to the bottom of the calabash. Usually mate tea is drunk hot, but the cold version is called tereré.
For novice mate fans, the first infusion can taste extremely bitter. No problem, just tip it away and pour the water again. That way, the yerba mate loses some of its bitterness and the second try will be better. Promise!
Effects
In addition to the feeling of relaxation, the South American mate tea also has a great influence on the well-being. Thus, it not only has a stimulating effect on symptoms of exhaustion and provides energy. The ingredients sound promising for personal well-being. However, there is no medical proof of its healing power. South Americans drink mate tea not only because it tastes good, but also because they believe it relieves discomfort and gives the immune system a boost. In addition, mate tea provides positive effects on tiredness and fatigue. The high content of caffeine provides an increase in performance, but in case of intolerance, mate tea should not be consumed. One to three cups a day is a real treat for a healthy person. After getting up, you simply drink your tiredness away. However, it is not recommended before going to bed.
Culture as social highlight
Friends, families or work colleagues like to get together to talk about the day, celebrate birthdays or simply enjoy the presence of all. Mate tea is a must in South America. For chatting, relaxing and taking a deep breath, the hot cup of tea is like a small wellness vacation. A typical picture also emerges in everyday life. It is not uncommon to see many people with the thermos in one hand and the calabash in the other. These accessories are indispensable for every mate lover.
Especially in a large community, a calabash is placed in the middle of the round. The host drinks the first infusion – consisting of the mate leaves and hot water – first, as it usually tastes particularly bitter. Then the calabash is infused again and passed around. This is how mate preparation works for every guest. In Argentina, offering mate tea is considered an invitation to friendship. So you should never refuse it.
Whether on the road, in the office, or at a community gathering, mate tea drinking culture has a higher status in South America than the wake-up cup of coffee.
Brands
To complete the pleasure, you will find salty cookies or chocolate cookies to be served with Mate.
