Time to Read: 5 minutes
Quick Overview
Tereré is cold yerba mate, Paraguay's national drink, made with iced water or juice instead of hot water and often flavored with herbs and citrus. It is refreshing, easy, and perfect for hot days. Here is what you need and how to make it.
In this article, you'll learn:
- What tereré is and where it comes from
- What you need to make it
- A simple step-by-step
- How to keep it going and experiment
In places where mate is drunk hot, like southern Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, people drink it all year, even in summer. In Uruguay you will even see vendors selling hot water near the beach in the hottest months. But if that sounds a little extreme, there is good news: mate is also delicious cold.
What is tereré?
Cold mate is called tereré, and it is Paraguay's national drink, recognized as part of the country's cultural heritage since 2011. It is also popular in northern Argentina and southeastern Brazil, and it is a wonderful option for summer days.
What you need
There are many ways to prepare tereré. Here is one, with everything you will need:
- Yerba mate with stems (it performs better cold)
- A bombilla (metal straw)
- A glass or cup. You can use a mate gourd, but we would not recommend it if you also drink plain hot mate, since the fruity, sweet flavors will linger and clash with your next mate.
- Cold water, or diluted orange juice or lemonade
- Ice cubes
- Herbs such as mint or lemongrass (optional but recommended), and slices of lime, lemon, or orange
- Sugar (optional)
How to prepare tereré, step by step
- Fill the glass with yerba. Add yerba to fill about one-third to one-half of the glass, then tip it to a 45-degree angle. For a stronger yerba flavor, cover it with a little warm water first and wait a couple of minutes.
- Set the bombilla. Cover the top of the bombilla with your thumb, then dig it down the low side of the yerba, pressing to the bottom.
- Mix your cold liquid. In a jug, combine ice with water, juice, or lemonade. You can add citrus slices, herbs, and sugar to the jug or straight into the glass.
- Pour onto the low side. Add the cold liquid to the low side, aiming close to the bombilla so the higher, dry yerba stays dry.
- Drink and refill. Your tereré is ready. Sip, then repeat the previous step to keep going.
Keeping it going
Just like hot mate, tereré gradually loses flavor. When it does, carefully remove the bombilla and move the yerba to the dry side, opposite where it was, then keep going. You can also start fresh, which is a great chance to experiment with different herbs, fruits, and even spices like ginger or cinnamon.
Tip
Prep your citrus and herbs in the jug ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. Then a refreshing tereré is just a pour away all afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is tereré?
Cold yerba mate, Paraguay's national drink, made with iced water or juice instead of hot water and often with herbs and citrus.
What yerba is best for tereré?
Yerba with stems, which performs better at cold temperatures. Flavored yerba and herb blends work nicely too.
Can I make tereré in my regular mate gourd?
You can, but if you usually drink plain hot mate, the fruity and sweet flavors can linger in the gourd and clash later. A glass or dedicated cup is better.
Is tereré the same as iced mate?
Not quite. Tereré is brewed cold from the start with herbs and citrus, not just hot mate poured over ice.
Stay cool with tereré
Once the weather warms up, tereré is hard to beat. Grab a stemmy yerba and a bombilla and give it a try.