Yerba mate - Beginner's guide - everything you need to know

This is an intro video for everyone to start with yerba mate:
1. Why yerba mate? The benefits (compared to coffee).
2. What is required? All items you will require.
3. How to prepare? The process of preparing.
4. How to drink? The habit of drinking for the best experience.

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:22 Daily habit - when to prepare and drink?
00:00:41 Why yerba mate?
00:01:12 Which equipment would you require?
00:03:59 How to prepare yerba mate?
00:07:57 When to replace the tee?
00:08:47 Types of yerba mate.
00:10:32 Recommendations on how and where to buy
00:11:42 My first yerba mate cup :)
00:12:04 Summary

[RobertoSalasCR]

Excellent video, just an extra advice, do not move de bombilla from the preparation stage position, this avoids the powder to get stuck in the bombilla so you can enjoy your mate with any issues.

[ricardoaraoz]

Nice video!
Couple of things though.
- You put too much yerba in that mate, 2/3 or 3/4 is ok, or even less if the gourd is too big.
- When you put your hand over the opening of the gourd I just shake the contents (no need to turn it upside down) a couple or 4 times and then get the yerba angled about 40 degrees in the gourd. Then in the lower part you pour just a tad of cold water, not much, so that the bottom of the yerba gets wet, that is so that the hot water will not burn the yerba so you don't need much. Then you start slowly pouring the hot water in the lower part of the gourd, you'll see the yerba will suddenly start rising, like floating over the water. THAT's when you insert the bombilla under the yerba, it's easier this way and less probability for the bombilla to get clogged.
- Here in Argentina you NEVER boil the water, if it boils you throw it out and start again (don't know why). Me personally when the kettle is hot I start looking at the water, it will get cloudy (very small bubles make it loose transparency) and then it's right (guess that should be around 90centigrade).
- The water should never reach the top of the yerba, or you'll "wash" it and it will loose flavour faster.
- You might try some dried out, or even fresh, orange peels to give it a different flavour. Some people like that. You either put the peels in the thermos with the water or you cut the peels into little pieces and put some with the yerba in the mate.
- There are many kinds of bombilla. My preference is those that have a metallic spring compressed at the bottom of the bombilla that acts as filter, they never clog and are easier to clean.
- Finally, kettle spouts. Tea kettle are not very good for mate, you'll end up dripping water everywhere, same thing with the thermos you have in the video. The kettle spout should be relatively small and cut in an angle so that you can pour accurately and no drips. The thermos should have a "pour spout" which will allow accuracy (in the amount of water) and no dripping.

[viveviveka]

Here are a few things I am testing out:

¤ Guayusa. A related holly species popular in Equador. Contains L-theanine and other compounds that make it different from yerba mate. Some people prefer it. I need to test it and see for myself. I'll probably enjoy both. I just ordered some this morning.

¤ Alternative preparations. I'm experimenting. The approach that most appeals to me is to put the powdery yerba in a strainer that allows the fine powder to pass through, then pour water over it. Maybe cold first, the wait a bit and add hot water at ~160°F/170°C.
Stir just before drinking, and drink everything — the soaked powder along with the liquid. The Japanese do exactly this with some of their teas. If the powder is uniformly fine, you don't even need to sort out the larger particles. It's all finely powdered enough, so you just add a spoonful and stir or shake.
Advantages include: simplicity, extra nutrients, fiber, full utilization, and possibly some natural sustained release.

¤ Just stirring the powder into other drinks and foods.

[mariomejia]

Hey I am Latino and I want to incorporate Mate into my routine. I like and enjoy cafe and te. but want to incorporate another drink into my daily. I try to find a local store / Argentinian supermarket to go in inquire about Yerba Mate drinking. I try looking online stores but i was not satisfied w the options that I found. So I went to the super online store and order a stainless 8 oz cup and a bag of classic Canaria. So lets see it goes for me. That Canarias is going to take about a 35 days to arrive so very disappointed with the duration of delivery. I will try to find some in a Latin store.
What do you think of the stainless steel cup? good? bad? I am assuming is ok to use it since the straws are made of steel. Moreover will not give off ar take flavor. Also the cup is double walled and insulted w plastic outer cover. i think my cup is simple but effective, at least in pictures. I hope I get a good quality product. I hope to get proper authentic cups later on. good informative video.