Mate Info
Mate is a plant native to South America. Its leaves can be used to make a bitter drink called mate. Mate is traditionally consumed from a gourd using a metal straw. The plant grows wild but is also cultivated.
The mate drink contains caffeine and theobromine which have an invigorating effect. It is more popular than coffee in some South American countries. Mate has an earthy, grassy flavor that some find unsettling at first.
Preventing Mold
Mate can develop mold if not properly stored due to moisture, heat, and air exposure. To remove mold, dry the gourd completely since mold needs moisture. You can also scrub the gourd with soap and rinse it out. Make sure to dry the gourd fully before using again.
Let the boiling water cool down around 180°F (82°C). Pour the water in your gourd with lemon juice. Many guides recommend using boiling hot water. However, we don’t want to risk cracking our gourd. As you use your gourd daily, it will start to naturally change color because the yerba stains the inner walls, giving it that dark brown/green color. Some will even turn black.
To kill mold use white distilled vinegar without watering it down. Spray the vinegar onto the moldy surface and leave it to sit for an hour. Finally, wipe clean with water and allow to dry.
Gourd Info
The gourd will naturally cure on its own with daily use. The gourd is porous and can "store" flavors. Gourds come in shapes. Calabash (Squash), Wood, Glass, Metal, Silicon rubber. Size and shape vary by region. Before using, rinse thoroughly. Sand inside smooth. Oil wood to prevent drying.
To use: Add 2 tablespoons yerba. Fill with hot (not boiling) water. Sip through bombilla straw. Refill 10+ times. Extracts all goodness.
Over time the gourd stains brown/black from yerba. This is normal. Some fuzzy mold can occur if not fully dried. Scrub inside with salt to disinfect.
Other Topics
Why is my gourd black?
The song “Matte Black” promotes addiction. Scrim switches subjects often.
Chess
To mate in 2 moves, black must not get checkmated. I wondered why people love chess. It’s the story with each move. I remembered amazing memories with my father.
Skin Pigmentation
My face is darker than my body. I tried products with no results. Seeing my face frustrates me daily. I met doctors but still no results. Skin pigmentation causes discoloration. Hyperpigmentation treatment is needed.
Spider Mating
The male redback spider developed a taste for sacrificial sex. Flipping his abdomen into the female’s mouth increases sack time and gene passing.