5 Tips on how to put the Zen back in your takeaway tea

We can taste the love in a cup of tea that’s been prepared for us with intention and care.

It is not dissimilar to the experience associated with tea ceremony —

from an earthy yerba mate gourd circle in South America, to the Zen origins of a Japanese green tea ritual, these traditions have been practiced in all corners of the globe for centuries.

Tea ceremony honours the plants and brings sacredness to everyday experience.

So, in the era of the tea bag and powdered tea beverages, how do we put the ceremony back into our cuppa?

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Aside from being two of the most talented and famous footballers in the world, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi have something else in common; they have both been spotted on different occasions drinking Yerba Mate tea. Suarez has been seen leaving Barcelona and Uruguay games drinking directly from his gourd. Even the legendary Diego Maradona who is sometimes accredited as the greatest footballer of his time loved this South American traditional tea. Historically, Yerba Mate tea has been enjoyed since as early as the 16th century. It is made by steeping the ground leaves and round stems of the Yerba Mate plant. Although it can be currently found taken as a modern tea, the most authentic way to enjoy this special brew is traditionally serving it in a ‘mate’ Spanish name for gourd and drink using a straw famously known as the bombilla, or as we like to call it – Bombisha!

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As a heart-centred business, Bombisha is passionate about supporting passion projects… projects motivated by creativity, kindness and enhancing the wellness of the universe, on every level. This could be a multi-billion dollar cooperate business or a personal endeavour of singing to as many trees as possible. Essentially, the more we do what we love and love what we do, the more we thrive as a human family and nourish the system which nourishes us, mother earth pacha mama.

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So your Bombisheros set up camp last month at the Manly Village Public School markets to share with community and offer the magic Mate Chai Latte. While this Yerba Mate infusion embraces all the spices of a classic chai, La Yerba gives it a curious twist, an untold mysterious depth… dive in, she said, what does it feel like to swim beneath the waves…

We were hopeful that our community would enjoy Green Chai as much as we do, but were really quite unsure. Luckily, our friend MJ — Master Chai Lover — who, without hesitation, will drive 45 minutes across the city to sit and drink a decent chai, swung by early for a little sample. He took a sip…no comment…went in cautiously for another…and then another….and finally, there it was!!! The eyebrows raised and a mouthful of mmmmm’s – the yum factor was on! Mate Chai Latte was a hit for many that day so in celebration, we’d like to share with you two recipes to make Mate Chai Latte at home.
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Sharing yerba mate tea, Bombisha finds itself part of the stimulants industry. A booming sector whose strengths include enhancing performance, increasing endurance, the feel good factor and assisting us to meet the demands of daily life.

And whose shadow aspects are associated with words like adrenal fatigue, sleep disorder, addiction and nervous system imbalances – eek!

So, where does yerba mate fall on this spectrum? Does it contain caffeine? Is it better for me than coffee? Will I get a come down? How much can I take daily?

The answers to these questions are revealing and important, but what I have found to be more relevant to overall wellness is the broader theme of stimulation…
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It is always curious for me to observe what yerba mate theme will naturally reveal itself for discussion from week to week… In recent days, germs have popped up to be addressed. Specifically, germs in relation to the ancient yerba mate tradition of sharing a straw — a bombilla — between friends… and strangers.
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One of my favourite yerba mate traditions is adding medicinal herbs to my gourd or teapot mate. As a long time lover of tea blending and drinking, it was very natural for me to pop a little bit of this herb and that herb into my yerba brew. I must say, however, when I learnt that in various parts of Argentina your local naturopath or herbalist would prescribe herbs medicinally to be taken in your yerba mate gourd, I embraced the practice on a whole new level. Unlike coffee which many advise drinking separately to some supplements and vitamins because it inhibits their absorption, this cultural practice suggests that yerba mate is the perfect delivery system for the medicines of other plants.
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The 14th of December 2014 saw the unofficial launch of Bombisha at The Festival of Change in Sydney. We were invited to take part in this special event, which was created by Think Education to bring together innovative, inspiring industry leaders. More