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Hot, spiced apple cider has long been a holiday favorite around our house. This year as we decorated our Christmas tree, I thought it might be fun to make it with yerba mate. I was delighted with the results and I suggest you bring yerba mate into your holiday season. Here are simple ways to make - spicy yerba mate cider!

A few months ago, I wrote about chai latte yerba mate. It’s easy to prepare because it’s available as a concentrate; just mix with milk, heat it up and drink. In my previous post I referred to the Guayaki and Pixie Mate brands of chai latte yerba mate concentrate. I have found two more brands - Amazonia Mate Chai from Masala Chai Co. and Yerba Mate Tea Latte from Third Street Chai. There may be other brands of chai latte yerba mate concentrate too, but the brand is not as important as the spices. The spices are the secret!

All you have to do to make spicy yerba mate cider is substitute apple juice or apple cider for the milk. Just mix the chai latte yerba mate concentrate and apple juice in equal portions, heat it up and drink it. (Follow the directions on the Amazonia Mate Chai label; it’s a little different.) There are plenty of spices in the chai latte concentrate, but to make it even more festive, or to give it your own distinctive flavor, you can add more spices such as cloves, nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.

The good news doesn’t stop there. You can heat a larger quantity of concentrate and apple juice in a crockpot and serve it to your holiday guests. Add your own spices to the pot if you like and serve with a ladle. Your guests will love it and maybe you will win a new yerba mate fan.

Here’s even more good news. You have probably figured this out by now; there is still another way to make a spicy yerba mate cider by the cup. Use a tea bag. Prepare the yerba mate tea bag as usual, but substitute apple juice. There are several brands of chai latte (or other flavors of yerba mate available in tea bags.

I recommend that you put the tea bag in your cup first and splash a little cold water (or cold apple juice) on it while you heat the apple juice. This will seal in the nutrients. Heat the apple juice on the stove or in the microwave to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, just as you would when preparing with water, and then pour it over the tea bag in your cup. Let it steep for about five minutes before drinking. You can add your own spices and perhaps a cinnamon stick to make it your own recipe.

I guarantee spicy yerba mate cider will add a special touch to whatever holiday your are celebrating this year.

Salud!