Mate (Argentine Yerba Mate Infusion)
In short: Yerba mate prepared in a gourd and sipped through a metal straw: the shared, earthy national drink of Argentina, served at 75°C. It takes about 10 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Total
- 10 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 5 kcal
Mate is more than a drink in Argentina: it is a daily ritual, shared among friends, family or coworkers. Dried yerba mate leaves fill a hollow gourd, hot but not boiling water is poured in, and the infusion is sipped through a metal straw called a bombilla. One person, the cebador, refills the gourd and passes it around, and each person drinks it dry before handing it back. The flavor is grassy, bitter and earthy, and it is often taken with sweet pastries.
Instructions
- Heat the water to about 75°C (170°F). It should steam but not boil. If you have no thermometer, bring it to a boil and let it rest for 3 to 5 minutes. Pour it into a thermos.
- Fill the gourd about two thirds full with yerba. If you want mate dulce, stir in the sugar now. Cover the opening with your palm, turn the gourd upside down and shake gently so the fine dust rises to the top.
- Tilt the gourd to about 45 degrees so the yerba slides to one side, leaving a hollow along the other wall.
- Pour a little lukewarm water into the hollow and wait a minute for the yerba to absorb it.
- Push the bombilla into the hollow, with its filter end against the bottom wall of the gourd, and keep it there. Do not stir it.
- Slowly pour hot water into the hollow, without wetting the dry yerba on the high side. Drink the first serving through the bombilla until the gourd gurgles.
- Refill with hot water and pass the gourd to the next person. Continue until the flavor fades and the yerba turns pale, usually after 10 to 15 refills.
Tips
- Never use boiling water. It scorches the yerba, turns the mate bitter and burns your mouth. Hot water around 70 to 80°C (160 to 175°F) gives the best flavor.
- Add a little sugar into the yerba before the first pour for mate dulce. In Argentina, plain, bitter mate is called amargo and is the most traditional.
Questions and answers
Does mate contain caffeine?
Yes. Its caffeine level is comparable to coffee per serving, and the total depends on how much yerba you use and how many refills you drink.
Why shouldn't you stir the bombilla?
Moving the straw clogs its filter with fine yerba and breaks the layers of the herb. Leave it in place, and refill by pouring into the same hollow.
Can I make mate without a gourd?
Yes. Steep 1 tbsp of yerba per 250 ml (1 cup) of 75°C (170°F) water in a French press for 4 minutes, or use mate cocido tea bags for a lighter version.
How long does it take to make Mate (Argentine Yerba Mate Infusion)?
About 10 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 5 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Mate (Argentine Yerba Mate Infusion)?
About 5 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 1 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 5 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 1 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
