A friend of mine just came back from Brazil and reports that people in the area where he traveled were preparing their mate with a lukewarm water soak first (I didn't catch whether they threw the water away or dumped hot water on top after the soak).
Can anyone elaborate on the various ways it's prepared in the various South American countries that do it?
Can anyone elaborate on the various ways it's prepared in the various South American countries that do it?
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SF Bay Area
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Re: lukewarm water soak first?
Mon, June 18, 2007 - 11:58 AMI was told to do that like it was standard procedure.
The way I do it, is to put just enough cold water in there, to make all the mate wet, but not have any excess so you don't get cold mate. So if done correctly there wont be any water to throw away. This is so that the boiling hot water won't burn your mate, and it will last for more refils.
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Re: lukewarm water soak first?
Mon, June 18, 2007 - 11:59 PMso, what does that do differently than just pouring hot water in? -
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Re: lukewarm water soak first?
Tue, June 19, 2007 - 12:41 AMsupposedly, if i remember the note card from my rosa monte right, when you "burn" the matte it looses some of the nutritive value and changes the taste -
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Re: lukewarm water soak first?
Tue, June 19, 2007 - 1:04 PMI was wondering if the soak is a way to keep you from using boiling water (for the reasons dustin just stated). -
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Re: lukewarm water soak first?
Tue, June 19, 2007 - 1:32 PMhaha like a trick to keep you busy till the water cools down -
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Re: lukewarm water soak first?
Tue, June 19, 2007 - 2:33 PMno, I just meant that if you went ahead and poured boiling water on, itd be cooled by what you'd already added.
I wouldn't know the difference, I always make the stuff american-style, with boiling water myself. -
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Re: lukewarm water soak first?
Fri, July 6, 2007 - 4:26 PMIt depends on the specific grind of the mate material... finer mate matter needs to sit for an extended period of time in order for the organic matter to expand, absorbing the moisture and contributing less dry matter in your mouth. the use of an appropiate size bombilla and vessel are also important specially if your mate has a specific grind. the placement and size of the bombilla matters when pouring the water. thus you can try different technics and styles depending on your preference. i like using the less grinded, thicker material b/c it s quicker of a brewing process and I just like the style.
hotter water tend to displace the mate material in the gourd in my experience. ..I guess boiling most caffeinated derived teas are a bad idea from what i read (or what i think).
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Re: lukewarm water soak first?
Fri, July 6, 2007 - 7:02 PMI've already read that the potential carcinogens are released when the leaves are boiled, versus when they're soaked in lukewarm or just under boiling water.
Every traditional preparation I've seen, and even many of the pre-packaged Mate, will say not to boil. This could be more to it than taste alone.
Veg
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Re: lukewarm water soak first?
Fri, August 24, 2007 - 8:49 PMYou wanna keep it cold at first so you don't drain all the substance away in the first few batches. There is no hurry, unless
you are in one; take it easy. Let the mate do its work.
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Re: lukewarm water soak first?
Mon, January 14, 2008 - 9:25 PMHot water actually can make the mate release potentially carcinogenic compounds if coldisn't used first.
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Re: lukewarm water soak first?
Thu, October 4, 2007 - 9:32 AM...AUM...
Soaking the mate in cool water first, seals in all of the nutrients.
...AUM...
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Re: lukewarm water soak first?
Sat, October 20, 2007 - 11:08 AMYes. Always use the cool or warm water first... unless you like only warm or cool water throughout the whole process... but never add "boiling" water to the mate--for reasons of flavor, long-lastingness (not a word I know), and addition of fewer tannins into the brew.
The general difference of preparation between the Brazilian and Argentinean (to lump all countries and areas into two general categories) is that the Northern, or Brazilian, method is to use a more powdery and green yerba, make a cooler paste first, and then drink with hotter water or even the same cool water--for a long time. the Southern, or Argentinean, preparation is to use a milder and larger cut leaf, a smaller amount, and a warm to mildly hot water throughout the drinking. Part of the reason for this variation I believe is due to relative distance from yerba growing areas in both tea cultures.
www.yerbamateteagourd.com
