| Yerba Mate Prep Tips |
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My favorite & to me the easiest way to make Yerba Mate is to put a couple scoops in a coffee pot & brew like coffee. I often add a couple leaves of dried Stevia too. Then you can drink it hot or on ice. - Christy I prepare my mate in my espresso machine. A couple of teaspoons in the puck, then I have a couple of ounces of nice strong mate, to which I add warm milk and honey. Keeps me going all day! I add a scoop of Stevia leaf to two scoops of mate', and brew in a 12-cup coffee maker. It sweetens naturally, with a host of other benefits to boot. I make my Yerba Mate by the gallon, and drink it iced. I use a drip coffee pot; I put about 4 tablespoons of the tea in the drip basket, and run a full pot of water through it. After pouring the resulting tea in a gallon pitcher, I run another pot of water through the same tea. When that one is done, I pop the filter with the wet leaves right in that second pot of tea. I let the whole thing steep for about 20 minutes so I get the full effect of the leaves. I then strain that pot through cheesecloth, mixing it in with the first pot in the gallon pitcher. I add water to equal one gallon, and I have great Yerba to drink iced for the next few days. If you use this method, be sure to stir the gallon pitcher each time you get a glass. Some of the teeny beneficial particles settle to the bottom...you want to get the full benefit with every glass! Put three scoops of yerba in a blender with cold water. Blend on high for four minutes. Strain if you like, but use a large holed strainer. Add 1/4 cup of lemon juice and a 1/4 cup of lime juice 10 oz cool well water add 1 tsp mate let set 1/2 hour (cold infusion tea) add 1 drop of favorite organic extract ......I love lemon and mints....stir with a wooden implement and then stain into a nice cup and enjoy. I also like to make batches of cold infused tea and freeze in individual ice trays with a sprig of peppermint or chunk of fresh lemon or what ever fresh herb or fruit I have on hand in each cube to place in tea.....is very pretty and fun to drink. I use no sweeteners at all......delicious...simply delicious.......I personally use and reuse the tea till it no longer leaches color when infused.....I feel its sacred. Love the stuff! "In Argentina they often use a grapefruit or an orange instead of a mate gourd. I make a hole in the top of the grapefruit and remove a little from inside (taking care not to damage the bottom). Then I put the bombilla and yerba and........voila!!!! You can pour hot water as a usual mate, or you can pour cold water (called 'terere')." "Although it tastes great without anything, a good variation is to add a little lemon grass." "Take 2-4 oz. fruit place in 16 oz cup. Add Mango puree of 3-4 oz. Add about 4 oz Yerba. Add 4 oz. ice and whip the dickens into a smoothie and drink straight up. It goes directly to the heart!" "I use a french press, make it strong, chill it and put it in my CamelBak for long bike rides!" |