# what do you put in yerba mate
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-put-in-yerba-mate/674016
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [November 15, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-put-in-yerba-mate/674016 "2013-11-15T22:03:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-put-in-yerba-mate/674016/1 "2013-11-15T22:03:37Z")
anyone drink this?
I got a sample in a tea order and I tried it straight…it was not bad but seemed to need something.
tried one cup with honey and one with almond milk and sugar. both are good, but I’m wondering what others use.
recently have tried honeybush and loved it without anything added and I also have some [Masala Chai Rooibos](http://www.arborteas.com/organic-masala-chai-rooibos.html) that is \*awesome \*with honey. I’ve tried other rooibos and been unimpressed.
---
### Author:  [@RoniaBorkason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoniaBorkason)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-put-in-yerba-mate/674016/2 "2013-11-16T00:05:33Z")
I’ve never had it in a tea bag (just Argentine style: loose-leaf from a gourd with a special straining straw) but I’ve seen both sugar or lemon juice added, or mint leaves are mixed with it.
---
### Author:  [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-put-in-yerba-mate/674016/3 "2013-11-16T00:19:23Z")
mint leaves? interesting. I have some peppermint tea I might mix in. thanks.
---
### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-put-in-yerba-mate/674016/4 "2013-11-16T00:20:05Z")
I just drink it straight.
---
### Author:  [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-put-in-yerba-mate/674016/5 "2013-11-16T10:22:08Z")
Maureen, whom I’ve mentioned a number of times on this message board, has a grandson, about 23, whose mother is Argentinian. He likes yerba mate and even has a South American style vessel to drink it from (and a package of mate from South America). I tried it once. I was not impressed: It tasted like a combination of tea and tobacco.
---
### Author:  [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2013, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-put-in-yerba-mate/674016/6 "2013-11-16T14:12:36Z")
I’ve been using my American Vessel: teapot and mug. it tastes fine, not like tobacco at all. just improved by a little sweetener.
this has been helpful! 😛
---
### Author:  [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-put-in-yerba-mate/674016/7 "2013-11-16T15:11:44Z")
Heresy
---
### Author:  [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-put-in-yerba-mate/674016/8 "2013-11-16T17:52:27Z")
I like it with honey and a little lemon
---
### Author:  [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-put-in-yerba-mate/674016/9 "2013-11-16T23:51:42Z")
> [@Frodo](#):
>
> Heresy
How so? 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-put-in-yerba-mate/674016/10 "2013-11-17T20:26:11Z")
Interestingly, there aren’t a lot of folks who drink straight “green” yerba maté in my tea bar. The most popular version had been Carnival maté, which is roasted and blended with caramel and flower petals. Then we introduced a double mint maté, which is blended with peppermint and spearmint. That’s now the runaway favorite.
My personal preference is still roasted maté, since I’m not a big mint tea fan. We tried some citrusy maté blends, but they didn’t sell well.
If you are preparing it the U.S. way (a teabag in boiling water), you may want to try the South American method, which uses a _lot_ more leaves and significantly cooler water. That changes the flavor dramatically.
---
### Author:  [@RoniaBorkason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoniaBorkason)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2013, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-put-in-yerba-mate/674016/11 "2013-11-18T07:29:15Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:10, topic:674016”]
South American method, which uses a _lot_ more leaves and significantly cooler water. That changes the flavor dramatically.
[/QUOTE]
YES - I always thought it had a nice grassy flavor, like wheatgrass juice or trying to make a whistle from a blade of grass.
---
### Author:  [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-put-in-yerba-mate/674016/12 "2013-11-18T15:18:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> If you are preparing it the U.S. way (a teabag in boiling water), you may want to try the South American method, which uses a lot more leaves and significantly cooler water. That changes the flavor dramatically.
OK, good info. thanks!
I get it [here](http://www.arborteas.com/organic-yerba-mate.html), and I see they also sell a gourd if you want to make it that way.
Do you sell Honeybush? I liked that straight and plan to get more of it.