We love making fancy, organic café drinks at home.  It saves money and time and allows you to experiment with higher-quality ingredients thank you’d get in the average coffee shop.  One recipe we’re quite sure we’ve perfected is our Lavender Yerba Maté Latte.  Not only is it delicious and comforting, it’s also incredibly nutritious, high in antioxidants and will give you hours of jitters-free energy.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1 Cup purified water.

1 French Press. We love the Bodum Bean.

2 Tbsp cold, purified water.

2 Tbsp. loose Yerba Maté tea.  Our favorite is the mild flavored Unsmoked variety from Eco Teas.

1 Tbsp. Organic Culinary Lavender.  We get ours from Hood River Lavender Farms or a local gourmet shop.

1 cup Organic, unsweetened, plain soy milk or organic dairy milk.  We’ve acheived the best flavor and foam density from Trader Joe’s soy milk and Ronnybrook Farm Whole Milk.

1 Milk Frother.  The Aerolatte is highly rated.

1 Tbsp. Organic Honey.  We’ve noticed multi-flower honey is perfect for tea.

Heat  1 cup of water to just-before-boiling in microwave or on stove.  While water is heating, add maté to french press.  Add 2 Tbsp clean water to maté and stir together ( Allegedly, “pre-treating” the maté with cold water protects its’ nutrients from being scalded by the hot to follow.)  Now add lavender to maté pulp.  When your water is hot (150 degrees for you pros), pour over maté and lavender in french press. Stir thoroughly, replace lid and brew for 4-5 minutes – never less than for or more than 5 – timing is essential to brewing perfect tea.  While tea is brewing, add honey to milk and heat together until hot but not boiling.  Begin frothing your milk.  As you get a nice density to your milk, your tea should be ready to plunge.  Pour milk into heated  latte mug (you can fill with hot water to warm).  Pour tea through milk into mug.  Enjoy!