How to Brew Yerba Mate

[rabbitsib]

I'm new to this whole yerba mate so I was wondering what is the easiest way to brew this tisane. Of coarse with all teas its a matter of taste but with a combination of different directions from numerous people here is directions that were presented:

Loose Mate Single 8oz Serving

Steep with a strainer or tea ball. Simply measure a 1 tbsp and splash with cool water to help preserve nutrients, then steep in hot (but not boiling) water for 3-4 minutes.

They say longer you steep is better and 150F is optimal for brewing.

Ok now that said I would like to know what your thoughts on how to brew the best cup of Yerba meta?

[rabbit]

As with many tisanes you can steep it for as long as you want, it's really just personal preference.

The directions you posted sound about right.

[Chip]

I recently heard that you can brew it pretty much like green tea?

[Sydney]

I recently heard that you can brew it pretty much like green tea?

I've done this with a very high success rate. However, at the end of the day, I want mine in a gourd.

Fill the gourd half full (-ish), fill with water between 140 and 160 F, and go nuts.

[RaynBeatle]

1 1/2 teaspoons per cup at about 210 Fahrenheit for 5-6 minutes.

[Shambles]

As far as I'm concerned, the most convenient way is to use a one-person coffee press. Three or four heaped teaspoons of mate, pour over some cold water, then fill it from the kettle. . . I find boiling water makes it taste bitter, hence the cold. I steep it for a couple of minutes, or I get impatient waiting.

Play with the variables according to taste, but I find a coffee press seems the best way to avoid having to deal with the leaves.

[morningbus]

My method:

2 teaspoons per cup. Temperature close to Oolong (approximately 175F). Brew in a french press for about 8 minutes. The splash of cold water is mostly optional if you can control the temperature of the hot water.

You can also make yerba mate in an espresso machine. Use about 4 teaspoons, add a splash of cold water on top of it, and pull a long double shot.

[ClarG]

I use one large heaping tablespoon of yerba mate for 8oz of hot water in a gourd or French press. Heat the water like you would for a delicate green or white tea so you pour it into the gourd or French press as soon as you see a tiny amount of steam come out from the spout of the kettle. You can make the yerba mate sweet if you do it correctly.

I make it with this measurement as I am the only person that drinks yerba mate. If I were going to make it for a guest or friend I would add more yerba mate. You can also re-steep the yerba mate a lot of times.

Adding cold water to the yerba mate before you put the hot water in is optional; but it prevents the yerba mate from being burned if you use water that's a lot more hot than I recommended.

I generally use a gourd unless I am waiting for my gourd to dry out, or making mate cocido on the stove in a pot of hot water to drink hot or over ice. Yerba mate also tastes delicious iced with juice and this is called terere.

I only buy unsmoked yerba mate as the traditional smoked types taste gross to me. If the mate is bitter that's fine but the type that are smoked or barbacua style taste gross to me.

I also will sometimes add in flavor to yerba mate like lemon or orange peel, lemon, orange, or lime juice, or mint to both hot and iced yerba mate. At times I have used honey, and when I first started out drinking yerba mate I would add in honey and milk or soy milk.

[Groucho]

What are some of your favorite brands?

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[kuánglóng]

What are some of your favorite brands?

Some of my all-time favorites, a bit on the stronger and bitter side

Anything by 'La Merced', excellent stuff, a bit more expensive but dirt cheap compared to some fancy oolongs and pu erh.
Del Cebador - old standby
Canarias - sounds like home - I'm drinking some right now
La Rubia
Campesino Clásica
Sara roja
Cachamate rosa - with herbs - less strong than anything from above but I know some folks who can't get enough of it