You can’t go wrong with vanilla and mint. Or so I thought. Turns out I have to be a bit more careful with my brewing technique.
The first time I had this, I loved the smell of the dry leaves and couldn’t wait to drink the tea. But it was very bitter. I couldn’t finish the mug! I had steeped it for about 7 minutes and added a little bit of sugar.
This time I steeped it for only 5 minutes and put both sugar and milk. Much better this time. Up until now, I hadn’t really given thought to the taste of different mints. The spearmint is quite different; I’m not sure yet if I like it as much as peppermint. But the combination of mint and vanilla is very nice. The maté is very different for me too; earthy and rich. I’d like to try this as a latte as well.
Preparation
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I recommend using a lower temperature – I usually brew my yerba mates at 195°F for up to 10 minutes. This allows the flavor to come out with not so much of the bitterness.
Thanks for the advice LiberTEAS! This is going to sound like a stupid question but how do I know when to stop the kettle for 195F (or 90C for me…hee hee)? I’m so used to just waiting for the whistle to blow.
What I’ve been told is to let it boil and then let it cool to that 90C. Helpful if you have a thermometer of course. If not, then you might be able to find some recommendations for how long it takes for water to cool in your kettle…?
I recommend using a lower temperature – I usually brew my yerba mates at 195°F for up to 10 minutes. This allows the flavor to come out with not so much of the bitterness.
Thanks for the advice LiberTEAS! This is going to sound like a stupid question but how do I know when to stop the kettle for 195F (or 90C for me…hee hee)? I’m so used to just waiting for the whistle to blow.
What I’ve been told is to let it boil and then let it cool to that 90C. Helpful if you have a thermometer of course. If not, then you might be able to find some recommendations for how long it takes for water to cool in your kettle…?