🧉 YERBA MATE 🧉

Happy Friday, Family 💚

The other week I had a meeting and someone on that call mentioned being a huge coffee lover.

I always thought coffee was kinda "niche".

As the stereotype goes

We drink tea and tea only in England.

Supporting the argument, Andrew Huberman mentions that over 90% of the population drinks coffee regularly…

Mad.

He's probably referring to the US population, but the point still stands:

Bare people like coffee.

I floated the idea to this guy in the meeting:

"You should try out Yerba Mate"

Him having never heard of it before, I thought it'd be a good email topic for those yet to catch onto it.

What is Yerba Mate?

Yerba Mate is a traditional South American drink made from the leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis plant.

Its energizing effects are similar to coffee but with a much smoother, balanced energy.

Here’s my Yerba Mate from Wednesday:

Why Yerba Mate?

Yerba Mate is more than just a drink that gets you dialled in.

It's full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, improving health and performance.

Health Benefits:

1 - Rich in Antioxidants

Yerba Mate contains powerful antioxidants, even more than green tea.

2 - Boosts Immune Function

With high levels of vitamin C, zinc, and saponins, Yerba Mate can strengthen your immune system.

3 - Supports Digestion

It has mild diuretic properties that can aid digestion and may help relieve some difficulties on the toilet...

4 - Heart Health

Yerba Mate may help reduce cholesterol levels, improving cardiovascular health by lowering the risk of heart disease.

Physical Performance Benefits

1 - Sustained Energy

Don't think just because the "high" isn't as quick and intense, it's weaker than coffee...

The longer you brew it, the greater the caffeine content.

So if you like being so wired on caffeine that you develop the ability to see sound waves, it's possible with Yerba Mate.

2 - Enhances Mental Focus

Yerba Mate improves mental clarity and focus, helping you stay sharp without the overwhelming stimulant effects.

How to Enjoy Yerba Mate 🧉

Traditionally, Yerba Mate is brewed and served in a gourd and sipped through a metal straw, but you can easily prepare it as a tea, in a French press, or even enjoy it iced.

There are bare flavoured varieties too like mint and citrus.

Here’s how to make it the traditional way 👇

1 - Obtain a gourd and bombilla

Yerba Mate is traditionally steeped and served in a hollow calabash gourd and drunk through a metal straw called a bombilla.

There are also mate cups made from metal, ceramic or wood.

You can use a regular teacup, as well, but you'll definitely need the bombilla.

2 - Pack the dry, loose Yerba Mate into the gourd just over half full.

3 - Place your hand on the top of the half-filled gourd and turn it upside-down.

Shake the more powdery leaves to the top of the gourd with several flicks of the wrist.

This helps to ensure that you don't suck in the powdery leaves through the bombilla later.

4 - Turn the gourd almost completely on its side and give it several light shakes back and forth.

This action will bring the larger stems to the surface, which will help filter the powdery leaves later.

Slowly and carefully tilt the gourd right side up so that the Yerba Mate remains in a lopsided pile on one side.

5 - Insert the bombilla into the gourd.

Whether you add cool water before or after inserting the bombilla is a matter of personal or cultural preference.

Either way, the cool water will help preserve the integrity of the mate.

Put the bombilla in the empty space next to the pile, being careful not to disturb the arrangement.

Bring the end of the bombilla to the bottom and against the wall, as far from the powdery tip of the pile as possible.

Then add cold water into the empty space until just before it reaches the top of the pile and wait for it to be absorbed.

Try to keep the powdery tip of the pile dry.

Alternatively, pour cool water into the empty space until just before it reaches the top of the pile, and wait for it to be absorbed.

Pack or gently tamp the slope of the pile.

This packing helps the mate remain in this shape later on.

Bring the end of the bombilla to the bottom and against the wall, as far from the powdery tip of the pile as possible.

6 - Pour hot water into the empty space as you did with the cool water. 

You must use hot water (70–80 °C) not boiling water, as boiling water will make the mate bitter.

7 - Drink from the bombilla.

If this is your first time drinking Yerba Mate, resist the temptation to jiggle the bombilla and stir the herb.

Do this and you'll end up clogging the bombilla and allowing herb into the straw.

You should hear a sound similar to when drinking soda with straw.

The mound can be pushed to the opposite side of the gourd and refilled a few more times in order to fully extract the flavor.

If you’re familiar with Yerba Mate, let me know what you think of it!

And if you plan on trying it out for the first time, I’d love to hear your experience.

Just reply to this email - I see the majority of them 🙏

Love,

Jordan AKA TheNottyChef