7 tips to prepare a missionary mate

Mate is a national drink par excellence, but it's much more than that. It is a  custom , a tradition that all Argentines share from north to south of the country. According to  INYM  (National Institute of Yerba Mate), 80% choose it as the main infusion. The tea and coffee follow him far behind. However, taking mate, enjoying it and being able to share it, requires some care when preparing and priming it.

How to prepare the best mate

The province of Misiones is the world's leading  yerba mate  producer and the “hotbed” of the best primers. Take note! Here are the 7 tips to prepare the best missionary mate:

 1 . Heat water, then place it in a thermos. Keep in mind that water should not be warm or allowed to boil to take good mattes. That is why the recommended water temperature is 70 to 80 °C.

 2 . Pour  yerba  into the bowl until you reach three quarters of it. So that the first matts are not so bitter, one or two teaspoons of sugar can be added.

 3 . Cover with one hand the mouth of the mate, invert it and shake it a few moments. Return the object to its normal position. Take care that the yerba lies on one of the walls and, in addition, a small hole forms.

 4 . To begin, gently place warm water into the gap that remained in the yerba. Start the mate with warm water allows not to burn the yerba and lose taste.Let stand for a few moments before taking the first mate.

 6.  Try not to move the bulb and always priming in the same place. This allows you not to wet all the weed and thus enjoy some exquisite mattes longer.

 7 . Take the first to test and then offer the second to the company. It's a nice custom that shows respect and camaraderie.