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Mate com limão
Iced mate with lime
Mate com limão: iced toasted mate tea mixed with lime lemonade, the drink of Rio's beaches
On Copacabana and Ipanema, vendors in orange uniforms trudge across the hot sand carrying two metal barrels, one of iced mate tea and one of limonada, shouting 'mate, limão!' and mixing the two in a plastic cup for each customer. The tea is chá mate tostado, roasted yerba mate leaves brewed like ordinary tea, with a smoky, toasty taste; with sweet lime lemonade it becomes the definitive carioca beach drink, cold, tangy and gently caffeinated. Toasted mate is sold loose or in tea bags in Brazilian shops; green yerba mate gives a grassier result. Squeezing the limes too hard, or blending them whole, is the usual pitfall, because the white pith turns the lemonade bitter. Chef's tip: brew the tea strong and chill it completely before mixing, so the ice does not dilute it.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the mate
- ½ oz toasted mate tea leaves (chá mate tostado)or 6 tea bags
- 4 ¼ cups water
- 2 ⅛ oz sugar
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Bring 4 ¼ cups water to the boil, take it off the heat and add ½ oz toasted mate tea leaves (chá mate tostado). Steep for 5 minutes, until deep amber.
5 minStep 2: Strain into a jug, stir in 2 ⅛ oz sugar until dissolved, cool and chill until cold, at least 1 hour (or overnight).
Step 4: Fill tall glasses with 20 ice cubes and pour in mate and lemonade in roughly equal parts, beach-vendor style. Stir and serve.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 85 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mate com limão take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of limes?
- Lemon, same amount.
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Perfect for:Summer coolers