mint yerba mate syrup recipe
ingredients
2 heaping tbsp yerba mate loose leaf
1 cup sugar
¼ tsp citric acid powder (or to taste)
2 cups boiling water
1 bunch of fresh whole mint leaves
tools
medium saucepan
container that can handle hot liquids (bonus points if it has measuring lines on the side)
measuring tools
sieve fine enough for your tea leaves
stirring spoon
muddler (spoon handle works)
funnel
serving bottle
recipe
Add your yerba mate leaves and 1 cup of water to a sauce pan.
Snap a photo to note the fluid level on the wall of the sauce pan.
Add the second cup of water to the saucepan
Boil down your tisane until it is back to the level you photographed in step 2
Strain your tisane into a heat proof container to check it's one cup and to remove the used yerba mate leaves, then return your tisane to the empty saucepan and put it on medium heat
Add 1 cup sugar and ¼ teaspoon citric acid powder to the saucepan
Simmer and stir until no grit remains
Gently bruise mint leaves in a heat-proof container
Pour hot syrup in, onto the bruised mint
Cool on counter for 30 mins
Funnel into serving bottle, stuff the mint in there too
Refrigerate
Notes & Trivia
I found the citric acid at Walmart in the canning section next to the shelf liners and mason jars.
Guayaki shreds their yerba mate loose leaf kinda fine, so I used a nut milk bag to strain the leaves out. I wish I could find whole leaves. If you know a good yerba mate leaf to order, Please Let Me Know.
This was my effort to hack the mint Guayaki yerba-mate flavor that gets sold at Kroger in cans. I've been mixing the syrup with carbonated water and am very happy with the results!