Hive Mate

Yerba Mate Soda, “Hive Mate”

Mike Horwath Aug 2016

Makes 5 gallons

Inspired by Club-Mate produced by Loscher Brewery: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club-Mate

Modified version of recipe by Dave Toews: http://makezine.com/2010/08/12/how-to-homebrew-club-mate/

Ingredients:

• 400 g loose Yerba Mate tea leaves
  • I used Rosamonte Especiale, ordered on Amazon
• 650 g sugar
• 6 cups agave syrup
  • Could substitute another 650 g sugar
• 4000 mg Caffeine
  • I dissolved No-Doze pills in a cup of water and filtered out solids (corn starch)
  • Use caution if handling pure caffeine—danger of excess exposure
• 2.5 tsp. citric acid
• 2 tbsp. robust molasses (I used “Grandma’s” brand)
• 0.25 tsp. Angostura orange bitters
• Homebrewer’s kegging supplies: 5-gallon Corny Keg, CO2 tank, regulator

Instructions:

1. Cold-brew the Yerba Mate tea by mixing leaves into ~3 L water, and letting soak in refrigerator for 12-24 hours.
2. Filter out the tea.  I used a spaghetti colander to get out most of the leaves, followed by a fine mesh strainer.
3. Heat ~1-gallon water in a large pot. Dissolve sugar, agave syrup, caffeine, citric acid and molasses.
4. Combine hot mixture and tea in keg, and fill to 5 gallons with cold water. 
5. Add orange bitters
6. Seal keg, shake to mix, and carbonate to 15 psi.