What You’ll Need
By the time you’re done reading this post, you’ll know exactly how to prepare mate like a professional cebador (yerba mate server). The traditional method of drinking mate requires delicate care and attention. But you’re rewarded with a delicious infusion.
You’ll need a few tools… A gourd (also called a mate). All you need is a gourd, loose leaf tea, hot water and your bombilla for filtering leaves from the gourd.
Serving Mate in a Gourd
Can mate be served in a gourd? It is served with a metal straw in a container typically made from a calabash gourd, but also in some areas made from cattle horn.
Preparing a New Gourd
Things to consider before first using your calabash gourd:
- It’s necessary to fill the gourd with loose-leaf yerba and hot water. Leave it for a day, pouring more hot water whenever you notice it being absorbed. After a day, remove the insides carefully with a spoon, peel off internal walls. Wash the gourd out and leave it to fully dry. Doing this prepares your gourd.
How Much Yerba to Use
Mate is made from dried leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis tree. It is drunk from a gourd by sucking through a metal straw. The gourd is filled with leaves. Hot water is added. The gourd gets passed around. Each drinker takes a sip.
To prepare mate traditionally you need a gourd, loose leaves, hot water and a straw to filter leaves.
Curing a gourd removes bitterness. It hardens walls. Follow steps: Scrub interior with baking soda paste. Rinse well. Fill with yerba mate. Add hot water. Let soak overnight. Rinse out leaves.
Choosing and Curing a Gourd
Some gourd tips:
- Look for calabash gourd for tradition. All shapes and sizes work.
- Decorate with leather or silver.
- Make sure to cure before first use.
Making Mate Step-by-Step
Prepare the gourd by filling with leaves. Pour hot, not boiling, water over. Share the gourd around. Add more hot water to intensify flavor.
When choosing a gourd, consider the size and shape that suits your preferences. There are round traditional gourds or more modern elongated ones. Before first use, mate gourds need to be cured.
To prepare yerba mate in a gourd, fill it about 3/4 full with yerba mate leaves. Use less for finer cuts and more for coarser cuts.
- More yerba makes a stronger mate, while less makes a longer-lasting mate.
- Create a mountain of yerba by turning the gourd upside down and shaking it vigorously.
Insert your bombilla into this mountain of yerba. The bombilla is a special straw with a filter on the lower end to strain out leaves. Carefully pour hot water (not boiling) onto the mountain until the gourd is nearly full, then drink the mate through the bombilla.
The gourd can be refilled and reused until the flavor becomes diluted.
Breaking in a New Gourd
To clean mold, let boiling water cool to 180°F (82°C). Pour water and lemon juice in your gourd. As you use your gourd daily, it will naturally stain giving it a dark color.
Yerba mate is prepared similarly to other teas. Traditionally served in a gourd.
- For a mild brew use 1 tablespoon per cup.
- For strong brew use 2 tablespoons per cup.
- Yerba mate can be prepared without a gourd using tea bags, a strainer or French press.
To cure a gourd, rinse thoroughly. Let dry completely. Pour in yerba mate then fill with water. Allow to sit overnight before cleaning out. Curing helps preserve the gourd and improves the mate taste.