Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nadina on November 12, 2008 at 11:35am

I am not sure, but I think with yerba and hot water should work, right?

Permalink Reply by Garth Kharitou on November 12, 2008 at 11:45am

Jeeeez,

it takes more effort than that!! remind me never to drink one of Nadina's Mate's!!

Permalink Reply by Francisco Abalo on November 12, 2008 at 12:07pm

Fill the mate (gourd used for drinking this stimulating South American infusion) with yerba 2/3rds of the way; cover it with the palm of your hand, tip it over and shake it baby shake it. After you have shaken your troubles away, put the gourd right side up but making sure the yerba in it is slanted. pour a little bit of lukewarm water on the "deep end" of the mate, wait one minute and then in one swift motion and with your thumb covering the top end of the bombilla (special mate drinking straw) insert it in the moist yerba. Then start pouring hot water 80° to 85° Celsius making sure you don't get the rest of the yerba wet. Drink the hot infusion trough the straw, rinse (we don't do this in Argentina but if you are a foreigner you are allowed) and repeat. Once the yerba on the wet side has worn out, put the straw on the dry side and start pouring there too. A regular sized mate should yield a one liter thermos of water (we are cool down here and not only use Celsius degrees for temperature, we also use the dreaded.... METRIC SYSTEM!!!).

How was that for an explanation.

Enjoy
Best regards
Francisco Abalo