5 Creative Recipes with Mate Tea

Ingredients :

• 1 cup of brewed and cooled mate tea
• 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• A ripe banana
• 1 to 2 tablespoons honey (adjust to taste)

Preparation :

• Infusion of Mate Tea:

Start by brewing your mate tea. Use about one tablespoon of mate leaves per cup of hot water. Let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes, then remove the tea leaves. Let the tea cool to room temperature, then place it in the refrigerator until it is very cold.

• Preparation of Fruits:

If using fresh fruit, wash it thoroughly. Hull the strawberries and cut them in half. If using a banana, peel it and cut it into pieces to make blending easier.

• Smoothie Assembly:

In a blender, add the cooled mate tea, strawberries, blueberries, and banana pieces. For a thicker smoothie, you can use frozen fruit.

• Adding Sweetness:

Add the honey to the mixture. You can adjust the amount depending on your preference for sweetness. If you prefer a less sweet smoothie, start with a tablespoon of honey and adjust to taste.

• Mixing:

Close the blender lid and blend on high speed until all the ingredients are perfectly combined and the consistency is smooth and homogeneous. If the smoothie is too thick, you can add a little more mate tea to dilute it.

• Tasting:

Pour the smoothie into glasses. You can decorate with some fresh fruit on top or a small mint leaf for a visual effect.

• Serve Immediately:

This smoothie is best consumed immediately, chilled. It offers a perfect combination of the vitality of mate tea and the freshness of fruit, ideal for a morning boost or a healthy afternoon snack.

Trick :

For a variation, you can add Greek yogurt or a handful of spinach for an extra boost of protein or greens. Feel free to experiment with different fruits depending on the seasons and your preferences. Enjoy!

Ingredients :

• 2 cups whole cream
• 1 tablespoon of mate tea leaves
• 5 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for garnish
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Material :

• 4 to 6 ramekins (depending on their size)
• A kitchen blowtorch or oven grill

Preparation :

• Cream Infusion:

Preheat your oven to 150°C (300°F).
In a saucepan, gently heat the whole cream without boiling it. Add the mate tea leaves and let it infuse over low heat for about 10 minutes. Strain to remove the tea leaves.

• Preparation of Egg Yolks:

In a bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar and vanilla extract until the mixture turns white and frothy.

• Cream and Egg Combination:

Slowly pour the warmed, infused cream over the egg yolk mixture, stirring constantly to avoid cooking the eggs.

• Cooking in a bain-marie:

Divide the mixture into the ramekins. Place the ramekins in a large baking dish and pour hot water into the dish until it reaches halfway up the ramekins.

Bake for about 30-35 minutes. The crème brûlée should be set but still slightly wobbly in the center.

• Let stand:

Remove the ramekins from the bain-marie and let them cool to room temperature. Once cooled, place them in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

• Caramelization:

Just before serving, sprinkle a thin layer of granulated sugar over each crème brûlée. Use a kitchen blowtorch to caramelize the sugar or place the ramekins under the broiler until the sugar is melted and golden brown.

• Serve :

Serve immediately after caramelization to enjoy the contrast between the crispy sugar layer and the sweetness of the cream.

Advice :

• For a more or less pronounced tea flavor, adjust the infusion time to your taste.
• Crème brûlée can be made a day in advance up to the cooling stage, making it a perfect dessert for planned meals.
• Be careful not to cook the cream too long to prevent it from separating.

This Mate Tea Crème Brûlée offers a delicious fusion of the classic sweetness of crème brûlée and the distinct aroma of mate tea, creating a dessert that is both elegant and surprising. Enjoy!

Ingredients :

• 4 chicken thighs
• 2 cups of brewed and cooled mate tea
• Juice of 2 oranges
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme or a few sprigs of fresh thyme
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Olive oil
• Zest of one orange for garnish

Material :

• A large skillet or casserole dish
• A baking dish if necessary

Preparation :

• Chicken Marinade:

In a large bowl, mix the brewed mate tea, orange juice, minced garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Place the chicken thighs in this mixture and make sure they are well coated. Let marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour, ideally longer for more pronounced flavors.

• Preheating and Preparing the Chicken:

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) if you plan to finish cooking in the oven.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Save the marinade for later.

• Braising the Chicken:

In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat a little olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken thighs and brown on all sides. Remove the chicken and set aside.

• Cooking the Aromatics:

In the same pan, add the sliced ​​onion. Sauté until translucent. Then return the chicken to the pan.

• Adding the Marinade:

Pour the reserved marinade over the chicken and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is almost cooked through.

• Oven Finish (Optional):

If you want crispier skin, transfer the chicken and sauce to a baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for about 10-15 minutes.

• Finalization:

Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve the braised chicken garnished with orange zest and a little fresh thyme.

Advice :

• You can add vegetables like carrots or potatoes to the pan for a complete dish.
• For a thicker sauce, you can reduce it over the heat after removing the chicken.
• This dish pairs well with white rice or mashed potatoes to soak up the delicious mate tea and citrus sauce.

This braised chicken dish with mate tea and citrus fruits offers a perfect combination of flavors, with the richness of mate tea and the freshness of citrus fruits, for a meal that is as delicious as it is original. Enjoy your meal!

Ingredients :

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups of brewed and cooled mate tea
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup red onions, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup crushed walnuts or almonds (optional)
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the dressing:

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Material :

• A saucepan with a lid
• A large salad bowl
• A small bowl for the dressing

Preparation :

• Cooking Quinoa:

Rinse the quinoa under cold water to remove the bitterness. Drain well.

In a saucepan, bring the mate tea to a boil. Add the rinsed quinoa, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the quinoa has absorbed all the liquid.

Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and let cool.

• Preparation of Vegetables:

While the quinoa is cooking, prepare the vegetables: cut the cucumber, pepper, cherry tomatoes and finely chop the red onion.

• Preparation of the Vinaigrette:

In a small bowl, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar or lemon juice, honey or maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Whisk until well combined.

• Salad Assembly:

In a large salad bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, chopped vegetables, walnuts or almonds, and fresh herbs.

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to coat all the ingredients. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.

• Service :

Serve the mate tea quinoa salad at room temperature or chilled. It can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for a few days.

Advice :

• For variation, add protein like grilled chicken, chickpeas or tofu for a more complete meal.
• You can also experiment with other types of vegetables or herbs depending on your preferences and what you have on hand.
• This salad is perfect for a picnic, an office lunch, or as a side dish at a barbecue.

This quinoa salad with mate tea is a refreshing and nutritious dish, perfect for a light lunch or as an original side dish. Its combination of flavors and textures will delight your taste buds! Enjoy your meal!

Ingredients :

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon of powdered mate tea
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Material :

• A large mixing bowl
• An electric mixer or whisk
• A baking sheet
• Parchment paper

Preparation :

• Preheating the Oven and Preparing the Dough:

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).

In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt and mate tea powder.

• Creating the Butter-Sugar Mixture:

In another large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This will take about 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer on medium speed.

• Adding Egg and Vanilla:

Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture, beating well after each addition.

• Incorporation of Dry Ingredients:

Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture, beating just until combined.

• Adding Chocolate Chips:

Fold the dark chocolate chips into the batter using a spatula or wooden spoon.

• Biscuit Formation:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Using a tablespoon or small ice cream scoop, form balls of dough and place them on the baking sheet, spacing them a few inches apart.

• Cooking :

Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges.

• Cooling:

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Advice :

• Be careful not to overbake the cookies to keep their soft texture inside.
• You can adjust the amount of powdered mate tea for a more or less pronounced taste.
• These cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.

These mate tea and chocolate cookies are the perfect accompaniment to your cup of tea or coffee. Their crunchy texture on the outside and soft on the inside, combined with the unique flavor of mate tea and melting chocolate chips, make them an irresistible treat. Enjoy!