Preparing Mate: How to do it right - tips & instructions

A milder wake-up drink than coffee, plus a companion for several hours: Mate is finding increasing fans in Europe. If you'd like to brew and drink the South American cult drink yourself, we explain how.

South America in Germany: mate warms up and wakes you up.

The fact that mate is becoming more and more popular in this country is also reflected in the retail trade, which stocks a large selection of both yerba and the hardware.

Preparing mate: Explained step by step

Because of the long tradition, there are several philosophies for perfect yerba preparation. An established and widespread method is this:

1. Fill the calabash with yerba. The amount determines the strength and intensity - for beginners, it is usually enough to fill the vessel to one-third.
2. Then, keeping the opening completely covered with the palm of one hand, turn the calabash upside down and shake vigorously. This will loosen fine particles of yerba and remove them from the mixture.
3. Then pour in a tiny bit of cold water; just enough to half-cover the herbs. Wait a few minutes.
4. Heat water to about 70 degrees. Put the bombilla into the calabash.
5. Pour the hot water into the calabash.

Now you can enjoy the fresh hot mate tea and renew several times with hot water. Sie bemerken selbst, wenn Geschmack und Intensität nachlassen – mit der Zeit wird die Yerba schließlich ausgewaschen.