What is the maté ?
If South Africa is renowned for rooibos (sometimes called “red bush”), Latin America takes pride in another native plant: yerba mate or Ilex paraguariensis, which grows notably in northeastern Argentina, Paraguay and southern Brazil. The story goes that this plant was already consumed by the Guarani Amerindians who chewed it or left it to soak in their gourd of fresh water. Although it grew in the wild, it was then cultivated, and its consumption spread to other Latin American countries (Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, etc.), before gaining followers all over the world. From now on, the maté is most often drunk hot, infused in a kind of gourd, called a calabash. It is a metal tube (bombilla) which serves both as a filter, but also as a straw.
What does the taste of maté ?
Difficult to answer this question. It's a bit like asking what tea tastes like, when there are different types of tea (white, green, black), with flavors that vary depending on the place of cultivation, the infusion, or whether it is flavored or not. For the maté, it's a bit the same, there are different types. If we had to summarize its general taste, we would talk about a slightly bitter vegetable flavor. The maté classic/traditional, consumed in Latin America, is drunk very bitter, while the maté green (which has not been refined), more present in Europe, is softer, more aromatic, sometimes with caramelized flavors. The preparation of maté also plays on its taste. To avoid a beverage that is too bitter, you must be careful not to use water that is too hot (70-80°) and not to let it infuse for too long.
Also read: The different tastes and flavors of maté
Can we play on the taste of maté ?
As with tea, you can influence the taste by enhancing it. Depending on our small preferences, we can add to the maté milk, honey, sugar, maple syrup, spices (cinnamon, cardamom, anise, etc.), coffee beans, mint, ginger, or even citrus peels.
How to properly prepare your maté ?
To properly prepare your maté Traditionally, all you need is a calabash and a bombilla. The calabash is a container specially designed for maté and the bombilla is a filtering straw that allows you to drink without letting the leaves pass through.
Here are the steps:
1. Heat water in a kettle without boiling it, the temperature should be between 70° and 80° C.
2. Fill the calabash up to ⅔ with maté organic. Mix to make the dust fall to the bottom. Make sure the leaves form a pile on their sides.
3. Place the bombilla in the calabash.
4. Pour in the hot water and let it infuse maté for a few seconds.
The maté can be brewed several times according to your tastes and desires.
What are the benefits of maté ?
Increasingly popular, the maté enjoys success thanks to its many benefits. First, it is a stimulating drink composed of caffeine (1%), providing a little “kick of boost”. Then, the maté is a concentrate of antioxidants, minerals (potassium, magnesium) and vitamins which help with concentration, strengthen our immune defenses, while reducing cholesterol and blood pressure. Another advantage of maté : it would have an appetite suppressant effect, forcing the body to draw on its reserves. Its infusion would then be recommended during certain weight loss diets.
For a quality drink, we opt for maté organic
At Kusmi, the maté is integrated into several of our flagship recipes, which are all organic, assembled and packaged in France. The organic designation guarantees you numerous quality controls during the production and development of tea, respectful of the environment and without pesticides.
On our menu, the mix Euphoria which brings together maté toasted, cocoa, orange, Detox which mixes maté, green tea and lemon, or BB Detox (maté, green tea and grapefruit), Lovely Morning (green tea, maté, citrus), Love is pure (green tea, maté, nettle), Boost (green tea, maté, ginger), Blue detox (green tea and maté). Note that we can provide you with bombilla, this stainless steel straw, specially designed to enjoy your maté.
And to prepare it at home, here are our recipe ideas !
Our opinion on yerba maté
Our opinion on this drink? If you're looking for something different, yerba maté is made for you! Whatever the time of day, it will give you a boost of energy. Possessing numerous health benefits, it is rich in vitamins, minerals and is a powerful natural stimulant. It is a bitter drink but its bitterness depends on the quality of the leaves. To be sure to buy maté quality, opt for a green/yellow color. Also note that the taste of maté differs depending on the variety.
Yerba maté is an atypical but very attractive drink that will delight palates looking for exoticism. Possessing many benefits, we can only encourage you to try it. Provided you opt for a maté organic! Halfway between tea and infusion, maté, This ancestral drink from South America has something to seduce you.