Afternoon study sessions got you tired? Grab some mate and a gourd and add a natural uplifting beverage to study time with your classmates on the lawn.
-Pronounced “Mah-Tay” Yerba Mate-translated means “Mate-Herb.”
-Green tea traditionally consumed hot out of a hollowed gourd with a filter straw called a bombilla.
-Most commonly consumed in central and southern regions of South America.
-First cultivated by the Guarani people and in some Tupi communities in Southern Brazil prior to European colonization.
-Mate plants start as a shrub and grow into a tree like plant, the leaves are an evergreen type meaning they do not completely loose their foliage at any time of the year.
-Northern Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil are the main areas yerba mate it produced by the cultivators called yerbateros.
-The leaves contain caffeine and are dried and ground coarse before being brewed as a tea.
-Yerba mate can be found in many energy drinks on the market today and offers a more natural caffeine source similar to coffee.
-Consumption of Mate gives you a “lifted” effect that is a mind and body boost, different than that of coffee that can give you the “jittery” effect.
How to enjoy mate in the gourd:
Gather friends, traditionally everyone sits in a circle with one person being the brewer.
-pack gourd with dried yerba mate of choice (about half-3/4 full)
-Shake tea in gourd (dry) and allow to settle to the side to separate the fine and coarse particles.
-Lay filter straw called “bombilla” on top of green tea.
-The brewer saturates the leaves with some warm water to let the leaves bloom or open up.
-Hot water is then added second.
* Adding Hot water first to raw leaves will burn them and give the mate a bitter flavor
-Gourd is then passed to first person to sip out of bombilla, once this person has a few sips they pass gourd back to brewer.
-Brewer will add more hot water and pass to next person (clockwise) and continue this until everyone has enjoyed the beverage.
-Etiquite:
-Try not to disturb the placement of the straw, it will ensure less leaves come through.
-Do not “camp” or hold on to the gourd too long, enjoy and return to brewer.
-Multiple gourds are acceptable or straws if you are concerned about sharing straws.
-Enjoy great conversation and each other’s company as you all get “lifted.”
Check out the Guayaki Yerba Mate store to purchase gourds and bombilla straws!
https://guayaki.com/shop/
