Filling the Gourd
Mate gourds, especially stainless steel and ceramic ones, are recommended for retaining the heat of the water. Grab your gourd, and fill up two-thirds of it with some loose-leaf mate. Cover the entire top of the gourd, and give it 2-3 good shakes to get the polvo (powder or dust) out. It can clog up your bombilla. Do your best to make a half-moon of mate sitting on the bottom of the mouth of the gourd (if you’re holding it to the side, or slightly angled) and free space at the top.
Pour a small amount of cold water over the leaves, to help protect the nutrients from the hot water you’re going to pour in. The traditional stovetop kettle allows for more control over the heating process, as you can adjust the flame or temperature as needed.
Consumption Advice
Avoid constant consumption, 2 – 3 beverages at most, which should last a good portion of the day and through to the late afternoon. Avoid drinking during the evening, especially if you’re sensitive to caffeine, so be aware of this whilst consuming it.
The traditional way to enjoy tea is to share the gourd (bowl) with a circle of friends and family. All you have to do is put a heaping pile of mate into the gourd, add some hot water, and sip through the straw. Drinking it in this manner is a big part of both the rural and urban culture in Argentina, Paraguay, and parts of Chile and Brazil.
Whenever you drink mate you need hot water. It’s easiest to boil water and put it into a thermos. Drinking mate is not only a very social beverage but if you partake of mate with a group, there’s just one gourd and one person who pours.
Water Temperature
Why not use boiling water for mate?
Mate gourds, especially stainless steel and ceramic ones, are recommended for retaining the heat of the water. Avoid boiled water for mate. If you fully boil your water, allow it to cool for 10–15 minutes before preparing your mate.
Never use boiling water to brew your mate, because that will make the resulting brew much more bitter. This recipe uses a blend of cool and hot water to make your mate taste awesome.
Hot mate doesn’t require boiling hot water, just simmered water. Using an electric kettle with temperature settings to heat water for tea makes it easy to get the water temperature just right.
We encourage you to always read the mate package and if in doubt, contact the manufacturer.
Overview
How to Cure a Mate Gourd Step By Step
You see, To remove loose tissue and material inside new calabash gourds that can impart bitterness, use one of two curing methods below.
Curing a mate gourd improves the taste and preserves the gourd. The process is simple whether you choose traditional or modern methods.
The Traditional Method
- Fill with yerba.
- Add warm water. Let sit 24 hours.
- Remove yerba with spoon.
- Wipe out moisture with napkin.
For Pumpkin Gourds
- Fill with yerba.
- Add hot water.
- Let sit 24 hours.
Curing isn’t absolutely necessary but recommended.