Yerba Mate
Medically reviewed by Christiana George Updated Date: January 2, 2026
When my Argentinian in-laws first introduced me to this drink, I did not like it at all. It was much too bitter and I didn’t like the idea of everyone sharing one straw. After working with them for several years and seeing them drink it all day, I did try it again and again. One day I finally took a liking to it. My sisters-in-law add a little sweet and low to the carafe of water that is poured in the mate or add an orange peel to the mate itself. My husband likes it plain and bitter.
It is supposed to be good for weight loss, although all the baked goods I have been making lately and bringing to the office kind of cancel that out. It does have caffeine, so at least it keeps me going all day.
Yerba Mate is kind of like a tea. The leaves come from a small tree or shrub. The ground up leaves are placed in a vessel called a mate. There are different kinds of vessels. I have one that is a hollowed out gourd, another that is wood on the inside and silver on the outside, another that is all glass. This one that we use at the office is porcelain. The water is heated up, but not to a boiling point. Then the water is poured over the mate leaves. You drink from the mate with a straw called a bombilla. It has a filter at the bottom to strain out any bits of leaves and it is usually made of silver. Once one person drinks from the mate the water is then refilled and passed onto the next person.
There is a whole ritual for the preparing, serving and drinking of the mate. You can check out these 2 sites:
Argentinians are pretty serious about their mate, the bring it everywhere, even to the beach. When I went to Buenos Aires last year I saw people on the street carrying thermoses and their mate, drinking as they walked. It’s almost like a drug.
I am used to drinking now and drink it everyday at the office. It is supposed to have a lot of health benefits. And it does go well with sweets!
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Brioche Hamburger Buns, Or Let’s Get That Grill Fired Up
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always viewed hamburger buns as purely functional things. They’re receptacles, carb-wrappers, so you don’t get your hands dirty while eating the truly desirable bits within. Cheese, for instance, and grilled onions, and sauteed mushrooms. Oh right, and the patty too.
Buns are integral to the entire structure of the burger, yet they’ve done little to niggle my desire, warrant my enthusiasm, or raise lustful thoughts (and shouldn’t they? Given their namesake and all). Until now, that is.
These buns—blogged about by Deb and later Sara—are dreamy: as in, they bake like a dream, come together in a cinch, and their ingredients can be found in most anyone’s pantry. They’re also versatile: I chose all-purpose, whole wheat, and rye flour to go in mine, and they came out hearty but light, soft but complex. But most importantly, they raise the hamburger bun to a higher echelon, one that will no longer be left until the end as an afterthought. And is there anything worse than forcing yourself to eat afterthoughts?
You’ll be ready to fire up your grill after making these.
BRIOCHE HAMBURGER BUNS
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen and Sprouted Kitchen
Makes 8 regular-sized buns
Ingredients:
3 Tbsp warm milk
2 tsp active dry yeast
2-1/2 Tbsp sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rye flour
2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp salt
2-1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
sesame seeds (if desired)
Directions:
In a glass measuring cup, combine one cup warm water, milk, yeast and sugar. Let stand until foamy, about five minutes. Meanwhile, beat one egg.
In a large bowl, whisk the flours with the salt. Add the butter by rubbing it into the flour between your fingers, making crumbs. Stir in the yeast mixture and beaten egg until a dough forms. Scrape onto a clean, well-floured counter and knead (by scooping it, slapping it onto the counter, and turning) until smooth and elastic (8 to 10 minutes). It should be sticky, so try not to knead in too much flour.
Shape the dough into a ball and return it to the bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise until doubled (1 to 2 hours).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the dough into 8 equal balls. Gently roll each ball and arrange them 2 to 3 inches apart. Cover the baking sheet loosely and let the dough rise until doubled (1 to 2 hours).
Set a shallow pan with water in it on your oven floor or lower rack. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Beat the other egg with 1 Tbsp of water and brush the egg wash onto the buns. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top, if using. Put the baking sheet in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes (turning halfway through), until the buns are golden-brown. Transfer to a rack and cool.
Note: I kept them in the fridge for about a week after I baked them and they still tasted good. Just heat them up on the grill or toast them right before eating.
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