Time to Read: 5 minutes
Quick Overview
The best water temperature for yerba mate is roughly 149 to 180°F (65 to 82°C). Too cold and the mate comes out weak; too hot and it turns harsh, bitter, and burnt, and fades fast. Within that range, the right temperature comes down to your yerba and your taste.
In this article, you'll learn:
- What happens when the water is too cold or too hot
- The ideal temperature range, and what shifts it
- How to hit and hold the right temperature
Water is an essential but often overlooked part of drinking mate. Its quality, its temperature, and even how you pour it all change the flavor and performance of your brew. The water should be clean and should not overpower the yerba, so we would avoid tap water unless you know it is high quality or you filter it. Purified or spring water works well too.
There are endless discussions about the “right” temperature for mate, and there is no single consensus. But a few guidelines will help you find what works for you.
What happens if the water is too cold?
You can absolutely drink mate cold, but that is tereré, a preparation in its own right, not just cold mate. If you prepare a hot mate (a cimarrón) but the water is not hot enough, the result will likely be a weak, almost tasteless brew.
What happens if the water is too hot?
Two things. First, on flavor: very hot water produces a strong, bitter, even slightly burnt mate at the start, and then it loses its flavor quickly. Since mate is meant to be sipped over a long stretch, you want consistent performance, not a fast burnout.
Second, on health: studies, including from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, have found that drinking very hot beverages of any kind is associated with a higher risk of esophageal cancer, tied to temperature rather than the drink itself. Those studies point to about 65°C (149°F) or below as the safest range.
What is the ideal temperature?
For us, the sweet spot is somewhere between 65 and 82°C (149 to 180°F). Within that range, the ideal depends on a couple of things:
- Sweet or bitter? People who drink sweet mate often go hotter, since hot water dissolves sugar more easily.
- Which yerba? Yerba with stems (the kind used for tereré), flavored yerba, and herb blends do well at lower temperatures. Stemless yerba handles hotter water nicely.
When in doubt, read the package or contact the maker; they know their yerba best. Ultimately it is a matter of preference, so brew at a few different temperatures and see what you like for each yerba.
How do you get and keep the right temperature?
You can always warm water back up if it is too cool. Too hot is trickier. If it reaches a boil (100°C / 212°F), it becomes “agua quemada,” or burnt water. Your instinct is to add cold water or let it cool, but many mate drinkers argue that boiling changes the water's composition in a way you cannot undo, and recommend simply starting over with fresh water.
If you only notice once you have started, and remaking is not an option, you can stretch it out by adding fresh yerba, a trick called “ensillar el mate” (saddling the mate). To get it right the first time, use a kitchen thermometer or, better, a kettle with temperature control. Once you hit your temperature, pour it into an insulated thermos to hold it for hours. And for the full routine, see our guide on how to prepare yerba mate.
Good to Know
Beyond flavor, keeping the water below boiling is the safer choice. Very hot drinks of any kind are linked to esophageal risk, so hot-but-sippable is the goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best water temperature for yerba mate?
Around 149 to 180°F (65 to 82°C). Within that range it comes down to your yerba and whether you drink it sweet or bitter.
Should the water be boiling?
No. Boiling water burns the yerba and ruins the flavor. Heat it to just below a boil, hot but still comfortable to sip.
What happens if the water is too cold?
Prepared like a hot mate, too-cold water makes a weak, nearly tasteless brew. Cold water is for tereré, which is a different preparation.
How do I keep the water at the right temperature?
A temperature-control kettle gets you there, and an insulated thermos holds it for hours of refills.
Find your temperature
Experiment with different temperatures for different yerbas, and you will quickly find your favorite. To hold that temperature all day, browse our thermoses and starter kits.