Yerba Mate tastes similar to a drink that tastes like tea and has the same effect as the taste of coffee. But it’s not technically a coffee. If you’re seeking an energy boost that isn’t from espresso beans, take a look at the South American super-beverage made from the twigs and leaves that have been steeped of a native plant that has been providing people with a healthy boost of energy for long periods. Herbal yerba mate tea has approximately the same caffeine content as coffee, around 800 milligrams in a cup.
The drink’s origins go to the pre-Columbian period when the indigenous Guarani people of Paraguay discovered and vigorously cultivated this Ilex Paraguariensis tree (a part of the holly family). Dry the twigs and leaves and infuse them with hot water as a healing drink. When the Spanish conquered Paraguay in the late 17th century, they also started drinking it, the country’s principal export. Additionally, other South American countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile also produced the crop, and following the introduction of coffee as well as different types of teas within South America, yerba mate remains among the top loved drinks consumed in the region.
A strong, bitter, and sour, yerba mate has a distinct flavor similar to coffee. It may require a period of adjustment. “It’s very expressive, like this euphoric experience,” says Ashleigh Parsons, a former Co-owner at Los Angeles hotspot Alma at The Standard, who used to reside in Argentina. She adds, “It can feel very trippy based on the amount you consume. The caffeine in it can really give you this high.”
A long-standing tradition revolves around yerba-mate tea, which celebrates this feeling. This ritual is outlined in the name yerba mater, which means “gourd herb,” referring to the traditional drinking vessel. It calls for using the mate (dried gourd), a bombilla (a specially designed straw for drinking that removes the leaves), and a thermos for transporting hot water. The ritual is usually held in a park or at a gathering place. The participants sit in a circle, and one of them–the cebador–fills the mate approximately two-thirds of the way with leaves and adds an amount of warm water to let the flavors out. The celadon then places the bombilla into the mate on an angle so that the straw doesn’t become blocked and then completes the top with boiling water (never boiling, since that could cause the leaves to burn). The gourd is then circulated to everyone who enjoys a drink from the bombilla. (Tip not to use the bombilla to stir to stir, as this is considered impolite!)
Bombillas and Mates differ widely in appearance. In South America, each person typically has their own set of mates. Mates are typically constructed from gourds. However, they can also be built from wood or ceramic and painted with decorative paint. Bombillas, too, can be made from various materials, such as stainless steel, silver, and bamboo.
When the gourd is distributed and tossed around, it’ll be filled with hot liquids, intensifying the flavor and flavor of each subsequent drink. Add milk or sugar to your yerba mate if you don’t like bitter. However, If you want to drink how locals drink, you’ll enjoy the drink without adding other ingredients. For food pairings, there aren’t any hard-and-quick rules about yerba-mate. However, it’s not unusual to find snacks or pastries served with the drink.
This complex process is not the only method of drinking yerba mate. Like the morning cup of coffee, Many South Americans prepare a thermos of this tea to consume throughout the day for energy and a boost of energy.
Yet, as per Parsons, the practice of passing around the mating partner in South America is widely considered to be “an art and a conversational piece,” she states. “It’s this communal beverage, and the entire ritual of drinking it is meant to be connective and celebratory.”
As you know, Yerba mate was eventually brought into its home in the U.S. In recent years, it has been a sought-after ingredient in everything from drinks to energy drinks. It’s praised not just for its energy-boosting properties but also as an aid to weight loss and better concentration and digestion. You can purchase loose leaves at most specialty shops to create the drinks at home. Suppose you’d like to experience the whole experience of yerba-mate, Parsons advises. In that case, you can even purchase a bombilla and bombillaand bombilla on the internet, get together with several friends, and take in the splendor of the South American ritual.