How Do You Drink Yerba Mate Tea?
Yerba Mate, a tea culturally tied to Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina, is fast becoming a tea trend of its own in the United States. Traditionally drunk from hollowed out gourds through a special filtering straw (called a bombilla), Yerba Mate is believed to improve mental clarity and digestion, boost the immune system and increase energy without the jitters associated with caffeine. While Yerba Mate is often sold in simple tea bags in the U.S., the traditional drinking process is a bit more complicated. Place your whole yerba mate leaves in the bottom of your mug or gourd, anywhere from one to three tablespoons, depending on preferred strength. Just barely cover the leaves with cold water to protect the nutrients. Allow the water to fully moisten the leaves. Add hot water, slowly. Do not remove the yerba mate leaves. Instead, drink your tea through the bombilla (filtered straw). This will filter out the leaves and leave them in the cup. As you drink your tea, add more hot water
