I like mate. It’s pretty bitter, but I think coffee is bitter too, people are just more used to that.

It affects me pretty much exactly the same way coffee does, just makes me more awake, a little jittery if I drink it too fast.

I prefer it the traditional way, but I’ve never tried a french press. That sounds like more trouble than its worth.

@La_chica_gomela huh. My understanding was that the french press was the fast method, for people without the time or inclination to steep several times. I’ve also heard you don’t crash as you do after drinking coffee. Has that been your experience?

Thanks for asking this. Now I want to try it.

@pdworkin Me too! My Mate has yet to arrive via mail though. Yesterday I discovered there’s a small place that actually sells it locally. That certainly taught me a lesson in patience.

I don’t know. I don’t usually crash after drinking coffee either.

I guess if you wanted to drink it in the car or something a french press would faster, but if I’m going to take it with me, my preference is to pour very hot water into a thermos, and bring the gourd and tea, then set it up when I get where I’m going. I guess brewing it the traditional way (with a gourd and bombilla) is part of the fun for me. Kind of like how smokers say part of the experience is the cigarette, it’s not just about the nicotine.

Oh I’d love to answer this!

We have a very diverse group of friends and we have regular potlucks. Well during one of the potlucks we were introduced to Mate. And at the next we had someone from South America, specifically where Mate comes from, at the potluck and he taught us some of the Mate brewing skills and talked about some of the culture and ‘rules’ behind Mate. It was a wonderful experience. Ever since then Mate has been part of our lives.

I find it a wonderful tasting tea for one. Second the amount of potassium in it is fantastic and gives a wonderful wake-up kick without worrying about drinking too much caffeine.

I don’t really enjoy the Mate as much without the ritual involved in making it and sharing it. We like to drink it from a gourd, brew it properly (which I’m still not good at, poo), and share it with friends.

As far as brands or styles I don’t really have much information on this. We get our Mate in bulk and we go for the organic, less name-brandish, type.

@La_chica_gomela agreed. The traditional ritual aspect is a huge draw for me. I wouldn’t use a french press, but I thought I’d use it as an example. Bringing hot water and the tools with you is a really good idea.

@RedPowerLady That’s really great! I didn’t realize it contained a significant amount of calcium. I also don’t think I would have been as interested without the element of community, so I’m glad you mentioned it. I hope to make it part of a daily routine by getting up earlier than usual to share it with my husband.
If you don’t mind, could you share a little bit of the rules/culture that you learned?

@Beta_Orionis As far as rules/culture i learned this a few years ago. The guy painted an image of what it was like to use the mate traditionally. There are quite a few brewing rules that I cannot remember. But it is certainly cheating to do it anyway besides heating water and pouring it in the gourd. And to not heat the water to boiling, it is a big no-no to burn the tea. Another rule I remember is about how important it is to share the mate, from what I understand it is not a tea that is used alone. I apologize I cannot remember more. I hope you get a chance to talk with someone from the culture that mate comes from, ask them questions. It is very interesting.

One thing that’s been bothering me about this question is why did you put an accent on the ‘e’? I don’t usually see it written that way. For example this newspaper article from Buenos Aires’s most popular newspaper doesn’t put an accent on the e. And it’s pronounced MAH-teh, not mah-TEH. So, I don’t know why it would have an accent.

Of course each region has its own variations, and I’m most familiar with Argentine customs, so who knows.

@RedPowerLady That is okay! I hope I do as well.

@La_chica_gomela I’ve seen it varied. In the article that I read, it had an accent, but it was written in castellano, so maybe they’ve deviated from the Argentinian pronunciation? It’s sort of bothered me as well. I’ve never heard it pronounced aloud by any authority, but I figured the emphasis would be on the ma naturally. I wish I could fix it! I can definitely understand it being bothersome. Inappropriate emphasis just hurts!

No, I was just confused, not annoyed. (‘bother’ is such a vague word) Sorry! Can you link the article? (if it’s on the web). It might have something to do with the etymology. According to wikipedia, ”“mate”, nace del vocablo quechua “matí”, que significa calabaza” (for non-Spanish speakers reading the thread it just says “mate comes from the quechua world “matí”, which means squash/gourd) and there’s an accent on the “i” in the Quechua word. link. I’m never sure if I can trust wikipedia, but it sounds plausible. Maybe there’s just variants. I just thought you might know something I didnt know, wasn’t trying to impugn you.

Ah! That does sound plausible. No worries, I always invite constructive criticism. Unfortunately the article is in print, and was part of some class readings. That alone should have made me question it I guess. You know what? I just checked and the English Wikipedia article has an accent. This article says it’s an English convention to distinguish between Yerba Mate and the English word “mate.”

Both the spellings “mate” and “maté” are used in English.[6][7][8][9][10] The acute accent on the final letter indicates that the word and its pronunciation are distinct from the common English word “mate” /ˈmeɪt/, meaning a partner (US) or friend (UK, Aus, NZ). However, the Yerba Mate Association of the Americas states that it is always improper to accent the second syllable, since doing so confuses the word with an unrelated Spanish word for killing[11]

True, and funny!

Haha! That’s hilarious! I didn’t even notice that! And who knew there was a Yerba Mate Associate of America? Wow!

@La_chica_gomela I know! Seems a little pretentious, but I guess if they feel it’s neccessary?

My only exposure to the herb is via the carbonated soft drink made by Materva, available at Mexican and Cuban grocers on-line. It is sweetened predominately with sugar rather than that High Fructose Corn Sweetener which is a plus in my book. It has a slight bitter taste, more so than a ginger ale, but I find it delicious and refreshing. The actual herb concentration is undoubtedly much less than the brewed tea and its delivery all wrong, so its not surprising that I can’t report any results of its consumption. And, I discovered it at a good Caribbean/Cuban restaurant, who I don’t believe would want to curb their customers’ appetites (one of the primary uses of the herb). See ya….Gary/wtf

@La_chica_gomela ah! They got it slightly wrong in the English article. it is actually The Yerba Mate Association of the Americas

@whatthefluther I had heard about the soft drink, but it’s interesting that you’ve tried it!

@Beta_Orionis: That makes a lot more sense!
@whatthefluther: I really want to try that now!

You can get Materva on Amazon (I looked) but it’s $7.95 for a six-pack, and $6.95 for shipping. Uh, I think not.

Actually, it’s the only soda you will find in my playroom refrigerator other than Coca Cola imported from Mexico and thus made with pure cane sugar (all the beer, domestic and imported, leaves little room for soda). See ya….Gary/wtf
@pdworkin I can find you a better price than Amazon….I’ll look for the link.

We have plenty of Super Mercados where I live, no worries.

you can get it at health food stores too.