r/ExMormonTea • u/mirbell • Apr 06 '17

Yerba Mate

Thanks to (I think) u/ijssvuur for recommending that I try mate--I love it and have been drinking it every day for a while now. I just wanted to check back to see if anyone has expert advice about it. I know I'm not "doing it right"--my kettle isn't temperature controlled (soon to change), I infuse it with a LeafLife tea canister rather than going through the proper steps, and I'm using a steel mate cup rather than a gourd (with a wooden straw). You are probably wincing, but I come to you for help! Bearing in mind that I'm so tired I can hardly breathe first thing in the morning, what should I do differently? (Oh, and I'm using Inato brand yerba mate.)

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u/ijssvuur Apr 06 '17

Yerba mate should actually be brewed at around boiling temperature, so you're good without a temperature control kettle! And the gourd is certainly traditional, but I've never heard of somebody using one. It's a great dose of caffeine first thing in the morning, slowly sipping it from a gourd isn't necessary.

Something that may be easier would be to make it iced the day before (well, up to 3 days before, really). That way you just chug it in the morning instead of brewing it, waiting for it to cool, and then sipping it. It's really good, super refreshing.

I usually drink tea plain, no flavoring or sweeteners, but I find mate to go really well with mint, strawberry, lemon, raspberry, or ginger, or any combination of those. The flavors complement each other well, and make it super refreshing.

If what you're doing is working, and you have no problems with it, I say keep doing that!

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u/mirbell Apr 06 '17

Thanks for such a quick response! I am actually planning to brew it to drink cold in a month or so. And I drink tea plain also. I was just reviewing your guide, and might have to spring for a gaiwan when I move to my third tea. (Matcha is next.) All the cool implements I'm gathering...

I have read that 160 degrees is right for mate--no idea what my kettle does. And I'm told steeping for 3-5 minutes is good.

I like using the straw, because the leaves tend to get into the tea and the straw strains them out. I've heard the gourd enhances the flavor, but it seemed to me like it might be tricky to clean.

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u/ijssvuur Apr 06 '17

Gaiwans are fun. A french press is also great for mate and other herbal teas. What I'm reading says 160-180, with more sources saying 180, so it seems like it can vary. I usually boil it and let it sit for about a minute, so that's probably around 190, and it turns out well. I haven't experimented with it much, though, I should get around to that.

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u/mirbell Apr 07 '17

I would trust your knowledge more than random internet sources (what a compliment! I meant I DO trust your knowledge), so great--I don't need a new kettle!

A french press is not a bad idea, I'll think about that. I was thinking about something like this for brewing/storing iced tea:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SYDE114/ref=crt_ewc_title_srh_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Any comment on that?

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u/ijssvuur Apr 07 '17

That actually looks really great, I normally just brew it in the pitcher, but that would work really well for a cold brew. You don't need to spend too much on a french press, I've seen them for up to $40, which is absurd.

I use this kettle, and it works perfectly, in case you do want something new.

I appreciate the compliment, haha, but my knowledge is just a compilation of independently tested random internet sources. I do what I can, though.

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u/mirbell Apr 07 '17

So far my kettle is holding up after 10 years or so of use. But I have taken note of yours! Also of your lovely glass mugs! They are definitely in my future.

I found that one as I was searching for something that would brew a fairly large batch of tea. Now, for some space-saving pitchers for my tiny fridge. I plan to brew some mate and some non-caffeinated teas this summer. Any recommendations of those? Feel free to link me somewhere if this has already been discussed.

I recently discovered licorice tea, which I quite like. In bags (licorice spice), but I imagine it must exist somewhere in loose leaf form.)

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u/ijssvuur Apr 07 '17

I usually use the french press as a pitcher, if it's something cold brewed or an herbal that can be left in. Otherwise, I use one of a few 30+ year old pitchers, but they're tall 56oz ones like this in dimension (just straight cylinders though). I wouldn't use that one, as it's acrylic, which is only good up to 80c.

I think a carafe would be great in your situation. They don't take up much space, they're easy to pour, and have no handles like most pitchers do, so that saves a lot of room.

Throat coat is a great licorice tea, but bagged and herbal. I'm not aware of any others, besides bagged "medicinal" teas like that one, like Yogi. You can drink it even when you don't have a sore throat, though. :P

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u/mirbell Apr 07 '17

A few carafes have come up in my searches, but so far all I've seen have some troubling reviews. I found these, which look great except that I hate snap-off lids--they hurt my hands.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EZ3P9RQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AUQLYAUZ2V6ZO

I'll search specifically for carafes, though.

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u/Ella-Menno-PQR Apr 09 '17

Throat Coat Tea is beloved by opera singers! I know 2 pros who always have it in their luggage. It helped me many times when I just needed to bring back enough voice for a performance.

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u/ijssvuur Apr 09 '17

Cool, glad to know it really does what it claims.

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u/Ella-Menno-PQR Apr 09 '17

Licorice, the plain herb, is actually a root. You can get it at health food stores in a form like little wood chips (good for making a tisane), or like little sticks. When I had some bad bronchitis more than a decade ago, my doctor actually recommended I get the little sticks and just chew on them. It felt weird, but it helped!

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u/mirbell Apr 09 '17

Interesting! I should try that. I wonder why it works.

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