Organic Green Yerba Mate

Our organic Green Yerba Mate yields an infusion that is slightly sweeter and lighter-bodied than traditional roasted yerba mate. Yerba Mate (pronounced YUR-ba MAH-tay) is a small tree related to the holly plant (Ilex paraguariensis), native to the subtropical highlands of Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina where it is considered the national beverage. Yerba mate is an organic herbal tea that contains a natural compound similar to caffeine (called matteine) and is legendary for helping to alleviate fatigue and stress and promoting mental clarity. This healthful organic tea is considered "the drink of the gods" by many indigenous peoples in South America, and is a staple in the diets of South American cattlemen, or "gauchos," being a food product that can stand up to the rigors of life on the range. It is truly the classic organic tea from South America. 

Ingredients: organic yerba mate

Serving Size: one scant teaspoon per 8 oz cup of water

We at Arbor Teas firmly believe that tea should be brewed to suit your personal taste. With that being said, here are some recommendations to get you started, but please remember you can make adjustments based on your own personal taste.

There are three main considerations when brewing tea: quantity of tea, water temperature and steeping time.

Quantity of tea: one scant teaspoon per 8 oz cup of water

Water temperature: use water that has been heated to a full rolling boil (212° F)

Steeping time: 5-7 minutes

Tip #1: Use fresh water whenever possible - water that has been sitting in your kettle overnight may impart a flat or stale taste to your tea. Be careful not to boil your water for too long. Over boiled water can sometimes impart an unwanted taste.

Tip #2: Herbal teas, unlike tea from the plant camellia sinensis, do not get astringent with longer brew times. So if you happen to steep longer than 7 minutes, don’t worry! Your herbal tea will gain more flavor, but it will never become astringent!

Learn more from our How To Guides on how to brew loose leaf tea, how to make iced tea, and how to make tea lattes. And don’t forget to check out our Eco-Brewing Tips, too!

How to Brew Loose Tea

How to Make Iced Tea

How to Make Tea Lattes

Eco-Brewing Tips

 

Smoky Yerba Mate Lentil Burgers

BBQ season is upon us! Will you have a vegetarian to feed in your group? Often meatless patties are dry and disappointing, especially the ones that come packaged from the grocery store. Veggie burgers are so easy to make in your home kitchen, requiring fairly minimal forethought and prep work. Check here to view the full recipe for Smoky Yerba Mate Lentil Burgers!

Liquid Vegetable of the Gaucho

Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is a small tree native to the subtropical highlands of Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. In much of South America, leaves of this plant are infused in water in a dried calabaza gourd and sipped through a filtered straw, called a "bombilla." This healthful brew is considered "the drink of the gods" by many indigenous peoples in South America, and is a staple in the diets of many South American cattlemen, or "gauchos," being a food product that can stand up to the rigors of life on the range. So prevalent is the consumption of yerba mate in South America, that mate bars are as widespread as coffee shops in the US. Traditionally, mate is often shared among close friends and family. The gourd and bombilla are passed around and around, refilling from time to time, in an act celebrating companionship.

For information on other traditions or to submit your own tea tradition visit our Tea Traditions section.

Tea Traditions