Alexis · Fondateur d'YVY Maté
You may know mate in its traditional form, with the shared gourd and bombilla. Over time, some traditions endure while others evolve. Society changes, and time grows ever more precious.
In mate's case, the evolution came in the 17th century with the Jesuits, who favored a simplified way of drinking it, without a gourd: mate cocido.
What are yerba tea bags' pros and cons? Is it better than the traditional gourd method? What is a mate cocido?
The mate variant: mate cocido
Mate cocido, or mate tea, is simply yerba mate prepared without a gourd or bombilla.
This tradition ties directly to the Jesuits who, to compete with the tea sold by the English, professionalized and modernized yerba mate production in South America in order to export it to Europe, Spain especially.
Mate cocido quickly took hold thanks to its very competitive price compared with tea and coffee - it was even the most popular drink in schools, hospitals and prisons from the 17th century through the early 20th. Today, this variant is gradually reclaiming its stripes and establishing itself as Europe's third energizing drink.
Cocido can be prepared in different ways - notably like a tea, thanks to tea-bag packaging.
Mate tea bags
Mate in cocido format (in a plastic-free tea bag)
With our ambition to (re)popularize this miraculous drink forgotten in Europe, we chose to offer mate in a form that speaks to the widest audience: the tea bag.
Advantages of drinking mate in tea bags
Drinking yerba in tea bags is practical, quick and simple.
Tea bags are mainly for people wanting to drink mate quickly, without using a gourd and bombilla. Ideal on the go, they can be carried and enjoyed wherever you are.
Another strong point: ours are plastic-free, made from corn starch, and therefore 100% plant-based.
Mate in tea bags is thus a great option for anyone wanting to discover the drink's benefits gently, without its bitterness.
The whole range comes in tea bags: Green, 24-Month Aged, Roasted - not to mention the 42-Bag Discovery Set to try everything.
Drawbacks of drinking mate in tea bags
This modern format, adapted to our habits, is a long way from the traditional method - much of what mate stands for gets lost, like sharing and conviviality.
Also, as mentioned above, yerba's taste is milder in a bag than in a gourd. A downside for devoted drinkers chasing yerba's bitterness - but an upside for those wanting to discover it gently and without bitterness.
The other ways to prepare mate cocido
Of course, there are other ways to enjoy mate.
Whether with a tea infuser, teapot, coffee maker or otherwise, we recommend our 80 g mate infusions, ideal for these preparations. This infusion format has a finer cut, made especially for quick brewing of our original recipes.
You'll enjoy all of mate's properties without bitterness - better still, with the pleasure of a refined tea infusion.
With a tea infuser
Brewing mate with a tea infuser
Preparation is similar to tea:
- Fill your tea infuser with 2 or 3 g of your favorite infusion
- Heat water to between 70 and 80°C
- Let the infuser steep in the cup of your choice, for at least 3 min
With a coffee maker (filter or French press)
Mate can also be prepared with a filter coffee maker or even a French press!
With a teapot
You surely have one at home if you're a tea lover: a teapot with a built-in filter.
It's one of the simplest, most practical ways to brew our mate infusions. Just like your tea, all you do is drop the leaves into the infuser and wait to your liking, until you hit the taste level you enjoy!
Brewing mate in a teapot
Is it better than the traditional gourd method?
To find out, you'll have to try both - each has its own pros and cons:
Drinking mate in a gourd is:
- Traditional - it carries yerba mate's whole history and values
- Yerba's original taste
- Longer and harder to prepare
- A little tricky to carry around
While drinking mate in tea bags is:
- Simple to prepare
- Easy to carry
- Milder, with a smoother flavor
The choice is yours: tea bags or the mate gourd!
And to switch to the gourd without going wrong, our complete mate kits gather gourd, bombilla and yerba — starting with the Discovery Kit.
