Techniques to toast mate tea leaves
The most common way of drinking mate (iles paraguariensis) tea is infusing its green leaves with hot water in a special way (chimarrão).
However, there is also the option to drink the toasted leaves tea. This is specially common in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
I want to know the best (and perhaps alternative ways) to toast the mate leaves at home in a way similar to the commercial ones, like "Mate Leão".
Please note that this process is different from the "sapeco" which is a very brief exposure of the green fresh leaves to fire in order to conserve its color characteristics.
Best Answer
There are green teas in China that have a 'toasty' flavour and that is usually achieved through pan frying. I would suggest to try that in a pan at home yourself (without oil). Make sure the leaves are continuously stirred, or they will burn.
Check for instance this video (at 25 sec) for a demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmKkVLadXKQ
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Quick Answer about "Techniques to toast mate tea leaves"
Pre-heat over to 350ºF (convection is preferable). Insert tray on middle rack for 5–8 minutes until mate begins to brown. Remove tray and stir mate. Insert tray for another 5–10 minutes until the mate is toasted to your liking.How do you process yerba mate leaves?
At this point, the leaves are either put onto conveyor belts or spread on stationary racks and exposed to the hot air of between 80\xb0C-100\xb0C (176\xb0F-212\xb0F) for a period of 2 to 12 hours. After the double drying process, which is nowadays done with gas or electricity - the yerba mate has lost 80% of moisture.Can you Rebrew yerba mate?
People make yerba mate by taking dry, crushed leaves from the yerba plant (Ilex paraguariensis), which grows in those regions. It's commonly wondered whether it can be reused for a variety of reasons when preparing it yourself. You can reuse yerba mate, as long as you don't see any mold or mildew growing.How do you infuse yerba mate?
Remember to always moisten your Yerba Mate with cool water before pouring hot water.How can I make my mate tea taste better?
A dollop of honey and a splash of creamer are great additions, but not necessary if you follow the basic rules. If you're brewing loose yerba mate in a French press (my preferred method), you can also add a sprig of mint, some diced ginger, or some orange peel for added delight.Tea brewing methods (a quick overview with examples)
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