50 Ways to Brew Your Mate

• Tea Bag (hot)
• Tea Bag (cold)

• French Press
• Tea Ball
• Coffee Maker
• Espresso Machine
• Sun Tea
• Gourd and Bombilla (traditional)
• Tereré (iced mate with a bombilla)
• Blending Suggestions

Brew Hot Mate with a Tea Bag

1. Place an EcoTeas Organic Yerba Mate Tea Bag in an empty mug.
2. Moisten tea bag with cool water to protect the flavor and nutrients.
3. Fill mug with 150 F water (never boiling).
4. Steep five minutes and remove tea bag.

To make a stronger cup of mate, use two or more tea bags. Do not brew longer than five minutes, as tea quality diminishes with over-steeping.

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Brew Iced Mate with a Tea Bag

This natural energy beverage is a lot gentler on your wallet than buying bottles of iced tea every day. When you consider all the resources required to ship iced tea around the country, this method is a lot gentler on the planet, too. This recipe is easy to make, it's full of nutrition and antioxidants, and it tastes great!

1. Drop an EcoTeas Organic Yerba Mate Tea Bag into a reusable bottle of chilled water.
2. Put the cap on the bottle.
3. Shake it up a bit.
4. Set the bottle atop your desk or in your car's beverage holder for ten minutes.
5. Watch as the water turns a brilliant shade of green. (These are yerba mate's naturally occurring polyphenol antioxidants and chlorophyll dissolving into the cold water.)
6. Add a squeeze of fresh lime and/or a dollop of agave if desired.

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Brew Mate in a French Press

1. Pour some EcoTeas Organic Yerba Mate Loose Tea into a French press (1-2 tablespoons per cup, depending on desired strength).
2. Moisten the herb with cool water to protect the flavor and nutrients.
3. Fill the French press with 150 F water (never boiling).
4. Steep 5 minutes and plunge.
5. You can also use cold water and steep for ten minutes, if you are making iced tea.

To make stronger mate, use more yerba. Don't brew longer than 5 minutes, as mate becomes bitter with over-steeping. The French press method is ideal if you want to add other herbs for additional flavor and benefits (see below for suggestions).

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Brew Mate in a Tea Ball

1. Fill a stainless steel tea ball with EcoTeas Organic Yerba Mate Loose Tea.
2. Moisten tea ball with cool water to protect the flavor and nutrients of the yerba mate.
3. Place tea ball in a mug and fill with 150 F (never boiling) water.
4. Steep 5 minutes and remove tea ball.

Do not brew longer than 5 minutes, as mate becomes bitter with over-steeping.

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Brew Mate in a Coffee Maker

1. Thoroughly clean your coffee pot and filter basket to remove the coffee oils.
2. Place a filter in the coffee basket.
3. Add one heaping tablespoon of EcoTeas Organic Yerba Mate Loose Tea per cup of water.
4. Moisten basket of loose yerba mate with cool water to preserve the flavor and nutrients.
5. Follow brew instructions for your coffee machine, just as you would for coffee.

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Brew Mate in an Espresso Machine

1. Thoroughly clean your espresso machine's portofilter to remove coffee oils.
2. Pour 2 tablespoons of EcoTeas Organic Yerba Mate Loose Tea into a small cup.
3. Add enough cool water to make a loose "slurry."
4. Spoon this yerba mate "slurry" into the espresso machine's portofilter and pack it in lightly.
5. Make a shot of green espresso for use in "mate lattes," "green granitas," etc.

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Brew Mate Sun Tea

1. Place the desired amount of loose yerba mate in a large glass jar.
2. Add additional herbs if desired (see below for suggestions).
3. Fill the jar with filtered water.
4. Set the jar in the sun for an hour or two.
5. Filter and store in the refrigerator.
6. Add fresh lime juice to enhance and preserve flavor.

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Enjoy Mate the Traditional Way

Traditional mate is a strong, invigorating brew. It is best shared with a small group of friends or family. The person who prepares and serves the mate is called the cebador (say-ba-door). Traditionally, the cebador is the only person who pours the water, passes the gourd around, and maintains the freshness of the herb.

Remember, it's necessary to cure your mate gourd before use. This process removes the bitter gourd taste from the vessel.

To Be a Good Cebador:

• Fill a thermos with 150 F water (never boiling!).
• Fill a mate vessel 2/3 with EcoTeas Organic Yerba Mate.
• Tap the herb to one side of the gourd to create a pit.
• Pour cool water into the pit.
• Insert a bombilla into the pit.
• Pour a small sip of hot water from the thermos into the pit, right over the bombilla's head.
• Test this "first pour" to make sure that the temperature is right - not too hot or cold - and that the bombilla is flowing well.
• Do not flood the gourd - the top of the herb should stay dry as you pour water into the pit.
• Pass the gourd to one person at a time, allowing each participant to sip until the bombilla gurgles.
• Gracefully maintain a slow, steady rhythm and a fixed order so that each participant receives enough mate.
• Gracefully discourage people from stirring the mate with the bombilla, as this often leads to clogging.
• Refresh the herb when it runs out of flavor.
• Maintain a steady supply of hot water.

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Tereré: Iced Mate with a Bombilla!

Tereré is a refreshing summer treat. It's more popular than hot mate in tropical South America.

1. Fill a pitcher with water and ice.
2. Add organic agave syrup, maple syrup, or unrefined cane sugar to taste.
3. Squeeze a fresh organic lime or two into the pitcher. (Organic bottled lemonade or limeade can be used instead.)
4. Fill a small glass or metal cup with EcoTeas Organic Yerba Mate. (We don't recommend using gourds for tereré, because the lime and sugar flavors willl taint the gourd thereafter.
5. Insert a bombilla into the yerba.
6. Pour sips of ice-cold, sweet, limey water right over the bombilla's head.
7. Share, Sip, and Refresh!

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Blending Suggestions

According to traditional Guarani herb-lore, yerba mate acts as a catalyst to enhance the properties of other herbs. Many blends are available on the market. You can also acquire your own herbs and experiment. The bombilla is a great tool for trying out your own unique concoctions.

We humbly suggest that you grow your own herbs and/or learn to wildcraft.

No matter where you live, there's probably a variety of tasty and healing herbs within a short stroll from your home. Wildcrafting is a great opportunity to get to know your local flora! When we wander the hills above our home in southern Oregon, we blend our yerba with manzanita berries, Douglas fir needles, sagebrush, myrtlewood, or wild mint. What's your favorite local blend (email: joe@ecoteas.com)? Consult an expert if you are unsure of a plant's identity or use. You can frequently go on organized wildcrafting hikes through your local outdoor store or college outdoor club.

In addition to wildcrafting, here's a few of the more common herbs and flavors you can get at any natural food store or grow in your backyard. Toss them into your French press, or sprinkle them atop the loose yerba in your mate gourd.

Diced fresh ginger root
Dried orange peel
Mint
Tulsi (holy basil)
Lemongrass/lemon verbena
Chamomile
Rose hips
Rooibos
Indian chai spices
Stevia leaf
Licorice root
Green tea
Coffee

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