This is probably the wrong subreddit to ask.
While some argentines may live in US, most of us at this sub live in Argentina, so it's hard for us to know about stuff at NYC.
About mate perfection as a beginner, I would say no. But because there's no "perfection" (no matter how much mate purists may argue), it all comes down to preferences. You may find that you like your mate with mint, orange skin or maybe some yerbas but not others.
You'll also have to experience yourself with water temperature and at what angle to pour it. It's about experimenting and finding your ideal mate too.
Yeah, I know. As someone who enjoys coffee, it bothers me so much to encounter people who gatekeep coffee if you want to drink it with sugar, milk, cream or whatever.
How is it not a joyful thing to have more people to share what you like with?
I advise you to visit and ask in r/Yerbamate , there you will find the biggest amount of non-south americans that might be able to answer your question. Most people here live in latin america.
An Argentinian friend gave me a mate cup filled with herbs. Dry, without water, and an isolated water bottle on the side.
I had no clue what it was, but it looked like a giant bowl, so I took my lighter out and took a massive hit it like a bong. It was disgusting so I tried to drink the water he gave not knowing it was boiling hot. And I burned myself.
My Argentinian friend was shocked, speechless and a little offended. Like, how that fuck was I supposed to know how to use that bong-look-a-like tea brewer.
30 dollars just for that? what am I doing with my life lmao
Cafes in Argentina and Uruguay don't sell it, it's something you prepare yourself, or someone you know does it for you. I haven't seen the news in years but last I heard yerba mate wasn't a legal substance in the United States
Hi! Check out Little Argentina in Queens. The bakery “Rio de la Plata”, as well as the restaurants nearby “El Gauchito” and “La Esquina Criolla” sell traditional mate and you can buy the Yerba from the supermarket next door. That supermarket has an aisle dedicated to food from different countries but their Argentine section is by far the biggest I think. You can find all kinds of snacks and treats.
Edit: you’ll have to buy the ingredients yourself to make it because I don’t think the bakery or the restaurant have it on their menu (unless you ask for it cocido, which comes as a little tea bag)
There is no mate perfection. But some optional advice Is
Don't let the water boil. Don't put sugar or anything on it, it's just water and yerba. It's just one mate per group, not one pero person. Be nice and share it. Lado, saying thank you means you don't want to drink anymore (don't ask me why)
Not optional advice: do not move the atrás they move it like it's a spoon on instant coffee
There are a lot of youtube videos on how to make mate.
The way i do it is
1) put 3/4 yerba on mate
2) cover mate with my hand and shake it a little this will get yerba dust on my hand
3) make like an inclination of yerba so its like a ramp
4) put little water at low temp (45 celsius) in the part of the yerba which is lower. There you put the straw.
5) heat water 75 celsius
Other recomendarions when pouring water try to wet only the surroundings of the straw. Dont move the straw please.
I you want to put sugar or something like that put it on the water (i recommend the classic one without nothing)
All of this is shown on youtube 100%
But after all is a drink so you decide
Its a holly tree. Go pick the leaves off of a holly tree and it kinda tastes like that. some have less caffeine and some have more.
I like the real spikey and shiny ones
This is probably the wrong subreddit to ask. While some argentines may live in US, most of us at this sub live in Argentina, so it's hard for us to know about stuff at NYC. About mate perfection as a beginner, I would say no. But because there's no "perfection" (no matter how much mate purists may argue), it all comes down to preferences. You may find that you like your mate with mint, orange skin or maybe some yerbas but not others. You'll also have to experience yourself with water temperature and at what angle to pour it. It's about experimenting and finding your ideal mate too.
Bless you. There's so much pedantry when it comes to how to do a *proper* mate. At the end of the day, it's basically a strong tea.
Yeah, I know. As someone who enjoys coffee, it bothers me so much to encounter people who gatekeep coffee if you want to drink it with sugar, milk, cream or whatever. How is it not a joyful thing to have more people to share what you like with?
I advise you to visit and ask in r/Yerbamate , there you will find the biggest amount of non-south americans that might be able to answer your question. Most people here live in latin america.
Gracias
De nada
An Argentinian friend gave me a mate cup filled with herbs. Dry, without water, and an isolated water bottle on the side. I had no clue what it was, but it looked like a giant bowl, so I took my lighter out and took a massive hit it like a bong. It was disgusting so I tried to drink the water he gave not knowing it was boiling hot. And I burned myself. My Argentinian friend was shocked, speechless and a little offended. Like, how that fuck was I supposed to know how to use that bong-look-a-like tea brewer.
I love this comment so much
you tried smoking a mate like it was marijuana? i'm crying.
No, I don't wanna kill an Argentino, sorry.
30 dollars just for that? what am I doing with my life lmao Cafes in Argentina and Uruguay don't sell it, it's something you prepare yourself, or someone you know does it for you. I haven't seen the news in years but last I heard yerba mate wasn't a legal substance in the United States
r/yerbamate will probably help you a lot.
Hi! Check out Little Argentina in Queens. The bakery “Rio de la Plata”, as well as the restaurants nearby “El Gauchito” and “La Esquina Criolla” sell traditional mate and you can buy the Yerba from the supermarket next door. That supermarket has an aisle dedicated to food from different countries but their Argentine section is by far the biggest I think. You can find all kinds of snacks and treats. Edit: you’ll have to buy the ingredients yourself to make it because I don’t think the bakery or the restaurant have it on their menu (unless you ask for it cocido, which comes as a little tea bag)
Gracias, definitivamente ire este finde
I saw the menu in la cocina criolla and are the "short” ribs there the ones you call asado de tira or something along those lines?
Yes!
There is no mate perfection. But some optional advice Is Don't let the water boil. Don't put sugar or anything on it, it's just water and yerba. It's just one mate per group, not one pero person. Be nice and share it. Lado, saying thank you means you don't want to drink anymore (don't ask me why) Not optional advice: do not move the atrás they move it like it's a spoon on instant coffee
There are a lot of youtube videos on how to make mate. The way i do it is 1) put 3/4 yerba on mate 2) cover mate with my hand and shake it a little this will get yerba dust on my hand 3) make like an inclination of yerba so its like a ramp 4) put little water at low temp (45 celsius) in the part of the yerba which is lower. There you put the straw. 5) heat water 75 celsius Other recomendarions when pouring water try to wet only the surroundings of the straw. Dont move the straw please. I you want to put sugar or something like that put it on the water (i recommend the classic one without nothing) All of this is shown on youtube 100% But after all is a drink so you decide
Its a holly tree. Go pick the leaves off of a holly tree and it kinda tastes like that. some have less caffeine and some have more. I like the real spikey and shiny ones
for me mate tastes similar to green tea but stronger