This cold brewed yerba mate recipe takes two minutes of hands-on work and rewards you with a smooth, energizing drink the next morning. No fancy gear, no bitterness, just chill time doing all the work.
Okay, confession time. I used to think yerba mate was one of those “acquired taste” drinks, the kind your health-obsessed friend swears by while you nod politely and reach for your coffee. Then I tried it cold brewed and, well, here we are, me writing an entire article about it.
Turns out steeping yerba mate in cold water overnight strips away that harsh, grassy bitterness you get from hot brewing and leaves you with something smooth, almost tea-like, and dangerously easy to drink. If you’ve been curious about brewed yerba but scared off by the traditional gourd-and-straw setup, this is your low-pressure entry point.
Table of Contents
Quick Overview: Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This is about as low-effort as homemade drinks get. You’re basically letting your fridge do the work while you sleep, which is my favorite kind of cooking.
Cold brewing yerba mate mellows out the flavor, cuts the bitterness, and gives you a naturally caffeinated pick-me-up without the coffee jitters. It’s smooth enough to drink straight, but it also plays really nicely with honey, citrus, or a splash of pineapple juice if you’re feeling fancy.
Plus, once you’ve got the ratio down, you can scale this up and keep a jar going in your fridge all week. It’s basically meal prep, but for your energy levels.
Cold Brewed Yerba Mate Recipe
Equipment
- Glass or jar with lid
- measuring cup
- measuring spoon
- Spoon
- Fine mesh strainer, if using loose-leaf yerba mate
- Refrigerator
Ingredients
Cold Brewed Yerba Mate
- 8 ounces Cool water 1 cup; filtered water gives the cleanest taste
- 1 tablespoon Loose-leaf yerba mate Or use 2 yerba mate tea bags
- 1 tablespoon Honey Optional, or sweeten to taste with pineapple, orange, or lemon juice
Instructions
- Add the cool water to a glass or jar.
- Add the loose-leaf yerba mate or yerba mate tea bags.
- Stir gently so the leaves are evenly wet.
- Cover the jar with a lid, plastic wrap, or a small saucer to keep fridge odors out of the drink.
- Place the jar in the refrigerator and steep for about 12 hours.
- After steeping, strain out the loose leaves or remove the tea bags.
- Taste the cold brewed yerba mate before sweetening.
- Add honey to taste, or stir in pineapple, orange, or lemon juice if desired.
- Serve cold over ice, or top with sparkling water for a fizzy version.
Notes
What You’ll Need
Here’s the beautifully short ingredient list. Seriously, this yerba mate recipe only needs three things, and one of them is optional.
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cool water | 8 ounces (1 cup) | Filtered water works best for a cleaner taste |
| Loose-leaf yerba mate (or tea bags) | 1 tablespoon, or 2 tea bags | Look for a good quality brewed yerba blend |
| Honey (optional) | 1 tablespoon, or to taste | Swap in pineapple, orange, or lemon juice instead |
Quick note on quantities: Prep time is basically 2 minutes, there’s zero cook time, and the steep takes about 12 hours. Total time clocks in around 12 hours and 2 minutes, and this batch makes 1 to 2 servings.
How to Make Cold Brewed Yerba Mate
Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients
Grab your water, your yerba mate, and your sweetener of choice if you’re using one. That’s it, that’s the shopping list.
Step 2: Combine and Cover
Add the cool water and yerba mate to a glass or jar. Give it a gentle stir so the leaves get evenly wet, then cover the container with a lid, plastic wrap, or even just a small saucer.
“The lid isn’t just for tidiness,” I like to remind myself, “it keeps your fridge smells out of your drink.” Nobody wants leftover garlic vibes in their morning mate.
Step 3: Let It Steep Overnight
Pop the jar in the fridge and leave it alone for 12 hours. This is the hardest part of the whole recipe, mostly because patience is hard when you can smell that earthy aroma starting to develop.
Overnight steeping is really what makes this Cold Brewed Yerba Mate so much smoother than the hot-brewed version. The slow extraction pulls out flavor without dragging along the bitter, tannic notes that hot water tends to rush out of the leaves.
Step 4: Strain and Sweeten
In the morning, strain out the loose leaves or simply pull out the tea bags. Add honey to taste, or stir in a splash of citrus juice if that’s more your style.
Give it a taste before committing to sweetener. Some mornings I want it plain and earthy, other mornings I want it dressed up like a little treat.
Expert Tips, Variations, and Troubleshooting
Tips for the Best Brewed Yerba
Use good quality loose-leaf yerba mate if you can find it. The flavor difference between a fresh, aromatic blend and a stale one is honestly night and day.
Don’t skip the cover step. An uncovered jar in the fridge will pick up flavors from everything else in there, and nobody wants oniony mate.
Fun Variations to Try
Pineapple juice is my personal favorite mix-in, it adds a bright, tropical sweetness that plays really well with the earthy base. Orange juice gives a more classic citrus lift, while lemon juice keeps things sharp and refreshing.
Want it fizzy? Top your finished Cold Brewed Yerba Mate with sparkling water for an easy homemade energy soda. You can also blend it with milk and a little sweetener for a mate latte situation.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Drink tastes too weak? Use a bit more yerba mate next time, or let it steep closer to the 14 to 16 hour mark for a stronger brew.
Drink tastes bitter? That usually means the water was warm rather than cool, or the leaves steeped for too long. Stick to truly cold water and don’t go past 16 hours.
Storage, Reheating, and No-Waste Ideas
| Method | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Up to 3 days | Keep it covered in an airtight jar or pitcher |
| Freezer (as ice cubes) | Up to 2 months | Great for iced mate lattes later |
This isn’t really a “reheating” kind of drink since it’s meant to be enjoyed cold, but if you want it warm, a quick 30 second zap in the microwave works fine. Just don’t boil it, or you’ll bring back some of that bitterness you worked so hard to avoid.
For a no-waste trick, freeze any leftover brewed yerba into ice cubes. Toss them into your next batch instead of plain ice so your drink doesn’t get watered down as it chills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this yerba mate recipe ahead of time?
Yes, that’s actually the whole point. Brew a bigger batch and keep it covered in the fridge for up to 3 days, pouring a glass whenever you need a boost.
Is cold brewed yerba mate less bitter than hot brewed?
Yes, cold brewing extracts flavor more slowly and gently, which means less of the tannic bitterness that hot water tends to pull out of the leaves.
How much caffeine is in yerba mate?
Yerba mate generally contains a moderate amount of caffeine, often compared to a cup of coffee, though the exact amount depends on how strong you brew it.
Can I use tea bags instead of loose-leaf yerba mate?
Absolutely. Two tea bags work just as well as a tablespoon of loose-leaf yerba mate, just steep them the same way for the same 12 hours.
What can I add to yerba mate besides honey?
Pineapple, orange, or lemon juice are all popular options, and each brings a different kind of brightness to the earthy base flavor.
Conclusion
This cold brewed yerba mate recipe proves that sometimes the best drinks come from doing almost nothing. Toss it in the fridge, forget about it, and wake up to something smooth, energizing, and genuinely satisfying.
Drop a comment below letting me know how you sweetened yours, or if you tried it with pineapple juice like I mentioned above. And while you’re exploring more easy homemade drinks and snacks, check out this crowd-pleasing boat dip recipe, this simple guide to making jello from scratch, this miso sesame bean salad for your next lunch, or this fun fruit roll-up ice cream recipe for dessert.
For more on the health side of things, Healthline has a solid breakdown of the health benefits and caffeine content of yerba mate, and Mayo Clinic offers helpful guidance on whether yerba mate is safe to drink daily. If you’re curious about its roots, National Geographic dives into the cultural history and origins of yerba mate.
