Apply These 10 Secret Techniques To Improve Yerba Mate Tea

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No matter how good the yerba mate tea recipe is, you can make it better!

We know what you’re thinking: coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are some of life’s simplest pleasures. But how many times have you had a steaming mug in front of your face and thought “this could be so much better?” When that happens to us, we bust out our secret techniques to improve yerba mate tea and make it an even more delicious affair.

1. Use a tea ball:  

The yerba mate tea leaves are pretty finely ground, so it’s important to use the right brewing method. The traditional Cuban teapot is made of clay and lined with dampened sand. After brewing, the cup is dried in the sun. Though it’s possible with a more modern pot as well.

If you’re using a tea ball, be sure to use paper filters rather than cloth ones because they let more air through while brewing.

2. Add orange peel:  

This trick is probably only useful if you really like orange peels; but if you do, make sure you know how to soften them before adding them to your tea. 

3. Add sugar:  

We recommend chocolate-flavored sugar cubes, but you could use brown sugar or granulated sugar instead. It’s also possible to purchase yerba mate tea leaves in larger bags in the market, which are perfect for jamming into your tea leaves and using as a sweetener.

4. Finely chop yerba mate tea leaves:  

Yerba mate teas have the consistency of sand, so it’s important to make sure there aren’t any big chunks floating in your mug. If you have a mortar and pestle, grind them up finely with some water and then put them directly into your steeping mug. If you have a small food processor, you could also just put them in there and pulse for a few minutes.

5. Add cinnamon to yerba mate:  

Another good trick is to add ground cinnamon directly to your boiling water for your yerba mate tea. However, do this carefully because too much cinnamon will make the tea bitter. If you like the cinnamon taste, try adding it when brewing your yerba mate tea instead of afterward.

6. Use fine-ground yerba mate leaves:  

While they look like sand at times, you can still use your yerba mate leaves as oatmeal or in baking if they are finely ground with a mortar and pestle or food processor.

7. Use a whole yerba mate plant:  

Yerba mate leaves are popular in Colombia and Brazil where they are processed into a tea and often consumed by the whole family. Just remember, it’s hard to find whole yerba mate plants in the U.S., so this is probably only recommended if you have access to one!

8. Heat your yerba mate:  

This is a trick that probably won’t work for most people, but some people have reported that it works for them to heat their yerba mate over an open flame or in an oven on low heat for about 10 minutes. This does not mean you should try this with your metal pot though… just sayin’.

9. Yerba mate tea bags:  

Though we generally prefer loose-leaf yerba mate tea, we understand that many people simply want to dissolve a tea bag in their hot water and drink it up. If you’re going to use a tea bag, choose one that is made with paper or cloth filters so that it brews without any bitterness.

10. Don’t forget to inhale! 

You may be focused on the taste of yerba mate when brewing your tea, but patients often enjoy inhaling the scent of it. In fact, there were people in Latin America who used it for centuries as a natural antidepressant and anti-anxiety remedy.

How to use Yerba Mate Tea

Yerba Mate is a leafy tree shrub that has been consumed since antiquity for its medicinal properties. The Guarani Indians were the first to discover in South America that steeping the dried leaves of Yerba Mate would create a mildly caffeinated beverage with a stimulating effect rivaling coffee.

Green and Gold: The Origins

The origin of the use of Yerba Mate is only vaguely understood. In the beginning it was a beverage made of leaves and branches that were gathered in the early morning hours, boiled in water and enjoyed after breakfast. In the old times, the Guarani Indians would call their cooking pot “mate” which means “drink” or “drincilla”.

A Special People’s Drink

Yerba mate is traditionally consumed by many people who live in South America, including Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela and Brazil. Today this special drink is also known as Criollo or Mercedez as it has been shown to have similar beneficial effects of coffee.

Summary:

Yerba Mate is a healthful traditional beverage that has been enjoyed by the Guarani Indians of South America and their descendants since time immemorial. It’s a great way to obtain energy, improve mental focus, and avoid many of the negative effects of “Coffee and Tea.” Even if you’re not a coffee drinker or tea drinker, you can enjoy your Yer-Calmz as an alternative.

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