How do you make the perfect Argentina yerba Mate? How many teaspoons, how long to brew?
I don’t think I’m doing it right, my bombilla clogs and it doesn’t flow as I remember it!
Pete answers:
We drink yerba mate every day. This is the way that we prepare our traditional mate.
Remember, the social aspects of sharing yerba mate with friends and family are just as important as setting up your mate gourd properly.
You will need:
– Yerba mate – not all brands are created equal. Try several brands, you will the find one that you like.
– A mate gourd (calabash gourd)
– A bombilla (metal straw)
– A thermos with a pouring spout is essential. In a pinch, you can use your tea pot or kettle. The thermos with the “Tapón cebador” (server top) does the job very efficiently.
Fill the yerba mate gourd to a little over 1/2. Turn the mate gourd upside down, and shake it a few times. This puts the fine particles on the top of the yerba mate, and helps to prevent the bombilla from getting clogged.
The water used should be hot, but not boiling hot. About 150 to 160 degrees is hot enough.
You should pour enough warm water to moisten the yerba mate, and let the yerba absorb the water. After about a minute, you can insert the bombilla and fill the gourd with water.
The first drink from your mate gourd will be the strongest tasting and may yield a little yerba dust. All subsequent drinks will be milder and eventually the yerba will become “washed”. You can tell it is becoming washed because the fine froth that rises to the surface of the yerba gets thinner and eventually disappears.
In which case you can remove some or all of the washed yerba and replace it with fresh yerba and you can continue drinking.
The traditional “mate amargo” has no added sugar, but you can sweeten your mate with organic sugar, Stevia or a sweetener of you choice. By sweetening the water you can achieve a more consistent flavor.
It is not hard to master the technique. If your bombilla should become clogged, pull it straight out with out disturbing the yerba too much. Rinse it with some of your mate water and re-insert it in the same spot. Pour the water down the bombilla stem until you get your mate going again.