How to Make Yerba Mate: The Traditional Gourd Method and a Simple Cup

By Suhail Rivera, JD, founder of Alkaline Herb Shop

To make a simple cup of yerba mate, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of cut and sifted yerba mate to 8 ounces of hot, not boiling, water, cover, and steep for 3 to 5 minutes, then strain. Use water just off the boil, because boiling water scorches the leaf and turns it harsh. Unlike most herbal teas, yerba mate does contain caffeine, which is why it is a morning drink. This guide covers the simple cup, the traditional gourd method, and the taste.

The simple strained method

1. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of yerba mate to an 8 ounce cup.
2. Heat water to just below boiling, around 150 to 175 degrees, and pour it over the leaf.
3. Cover and steep 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Strain and drink. A longer steep makes it stronger and more bitter.

The traditional gourd and bombilla method

Traditionally, yerba mate is drunk from a gourd through a metal straw called a bombilla, which filters the leaf. Fill a gourd about halfway with yerba mate, tilt it to bank the leaf to one side, add a little cool water first to protect the leaf, then top with hot, not boiling, water. Sip through the bombilla and refill with hot water several times, because the leaf keeps giving for many rounds.

What does yerba mate taste like?

Grassy, green and robust, earthy and a little bit bitter, closer to a strong green tea than to a floral herbal cup. The bitterness softens if you keep the water below boiling and do not over steep.

Does yerba mate have caffeine?

Yes. This is the important difference from most of our herbal teas. Yerba mate naturally contains caffeine, which is why it is traditionally a morning and daytime drink rather than an evening one.

What is yerba mate?

Yerba mate is the dried leaf of a South American holly, brewed for centuries across Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Ours is organic or wildcrafted cut and sifted leaf from Brazil, one ingredient with nothing added. We make no health claims for it. Drink it for its robust, grassy flavour and its natural lift.

Who should be careful with yerba mate

• It contains caffeine, so go easy if you are sensitive to it or avoiding it.
• Do not use it during pregnancy or while nursing.
• It is not recommended for anyone under 18.
• If you have a medical condition or take prescription medicine, speak to your doctor first.

How to store yerba mate

Keep it tightly closed in a dry place at room temperature, 59 to 86 degrees. Kept dry and sealed, cut yerba mate stays good for a couple of years.

Where to get it

Our cut and sifted yerba mate is organic or wildcrafted from Brazil, one ingredient with nothing added.

Suhail Rivera is the founder of Alkaline Herb Shop, which sources and sells the yerba mate described in this article.

Suhail Rivera, JD, is the founder of Alkaline Herb Shop. She has spent years sourcing, handling, and selling the herbs she writes about, working directly with growers and third party testing labs. She holds a Juris Doctor. She is not a medical professional. This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting any herb, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition. Read more about her and the store on the About page.