Sour Cocktail with Yerba Mate
If you're a fan of sour cocktails and looking to try something new, this yerba mate, tequila, and agave cocktail recipe is perfect for you! Made with the unique and flavorful yerba mate tea, this cocktail has a slightly bitter taste that is perfectly balanced with the sweetness of agave syrup and the punch of tequila. The combination of these ingredients results in a refreshing and bold cocktail that is perfect for sipping on a warm summer evening or impressing your friends at your next dinner party. So, gather your ingredients and shake up this delicious and trendy cocktail for a guaranteed hit at any gathering!
What is Yerba Mate?
Yerba mate is pronounced 'yerba martee' and is a strong South American tea. Some people would describe the aroma similar to eucalyptus or Vicks Vaporub, some people even describe mate as having a cigar like flavour!
Yerba mate is a herb made from the Ilex paraguariensis plant. This plant is native to South America. Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay in particular. Brazil is the largest producer of yerba mate, followed by Argentina and Paraguay respectively.
Traditionally, the leaves are hand picked, dried over a fire and then enjoyed as a tea-type beverage. Yerba mate is held in a cup known as a ‘gourd’. Traditionally, a gourd is a metal cup with a metal straw, which filters out the leaves. These days, however, a gourd can be made from many different materials such as wood and ceramic.
Yerba mate contains a whole host of amazing health boosting goodness. In particular: Caffeoyl derivatives, Polyphenols, Saponins and Xanthines. Read more about yerba mate: What is yerba mate and why is it so popular?
What Makes a Sour Cocktail?
A sour cocktail is a traditional sour tasting mixed drink usually made from a liqueur such as whisky, a citrus fruit such as lemons or limes, and a sweet syrup. Some sour cocktail recipes call to add egg whites. This sour cocktail is made from yerba mate, tequila, agave syrup and topped with sparkling soda water. You can add slices of citrus fruits and a squeeze of lemon or lime. I sort of forgot to add the citrus bit in my challenge video - whoops!
If you love tea inspired sour cocktail recipes, you may also love this Earl grey whisky sour cocktail
Tips for Making my Sour Yerba Mate Cocktail From Scratch
Add a squeeze of lime juice and slices of lime to your cocktail for a traditional sour cocktail recipe.
You can use any yerba mate or yerba mate blend that takes your fancy. I like using a cacao and vanilla yerba mate blend, however, any will work perfectly. You can also switch out for other types of tea. It’s great to experiment with flavors.
I’m using agave syrup in this recipe, feel free to use any sweetener of choice. Bear in mind that sugar and honey are harder to dissolve in cold liquids. It’s best to dissolve in your hot tea before making your cocktail. Simple syrups are much easier to add to cold liquids. Here’s a great recipe for simple syrup made with honey.
If this cocktail is too sour, feel free to add more syrup, honey or sugar to sweeten exactly to your own taste preference.
How to Make this Sour Cocktail With Yerba Mate
INGREDIENTS (Serves 1)
1 Teaspoon of F*ck the Grind Yerba Mate Blend - or any yerba mate blend
1 Teaspoon of Agave Syrup (More if you Prefer a Sweeter Cocktail)
1 Shot (2fl oz) of Tequila
Soda Water
Ice
Salt - Optional
METHOD
Firstly, brew the yerba mate in 1/4 cup of freshly boiled water. Allow to steep for around 4 minutes before removing the leaves. Stir in the agave syrup and set aside to cool.
To create a salt rim on your tall cocktail glass, dip the glass in tequila first and then salt.
Add ice to your glass, pour in a shot of tequila, the cooled tea and top with soda water.
Read More Tea Cocktail Recipes
