Yerba Mate with Ginger, Lemon and Honey
Loose yerba mate steeped at 80°C with sliced ginger, lemon and honey: earthy, bitter and caffeine-rich, for the morning.
Yerba mate is grassy, bitter and full of body—pair it with the heat of fresh ginger and a honey-and-lemon finish and you get a morning cup that tastes like the herb, not like a syrup, with its caffeine intact.
Yerba carries caffeine alongside theobromine, the same pair found in cacao, and the bitterness that goes with them. Ginger adds a spicy warmth on top; lemon and honey round the edges without hiding the leaf.
Brew the mate a bit lighter than traditional strength for this recipe—you want the herbal backbone without overwhelming bitterness, since ginger brings its own spicy kick to the party.
Drink this first thing in the morning. Add the honey and lemon only once the cup has cooled a little, so the honey keeps its aroma and the lemon stays bright.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp loose yerba mate
- 1 cup hot water (80°C)
- 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced thin
- 1 tbsp honey
- Juice of half a lemon
- Pinch of cayenne (optional)
How to make it
- 1Place yerba mate and ginger slices in a cup or French press. Pour hot water (80°C) over them.
- 2Steep for 4 minutes. Strain into a mug.
- 3Let cool 2 minutes, then stir in honey and lemon juice.
- 4Add a pinch of cayenne if you want extra heat. Serve warm.
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