Preparing the Gourd
To use a mate gourd, first choose an appropriate gourd and properly prepare it. Traditional gourds are made from calabash or wood and come in various shapes and sizes. Before initial use, cure the new gourd by filling it with ashes or rice to remove the soft inner lining. This removes bitterness and seasons it.
Brewing Yerba Mate
Next, add the leaves, filling the gourd about 2⁄3 full. Tilt the yerba on its side and add a bit of warm water, not boiling, to help position the bombilla. The bombilla is the special filtered straw used to drink the infusion.
Let it brew for a few minutes. Taste the first infusion before passing the gourd around. The cebador, or server, refills the gourd with more hot water until the flavor diminishes.
Proper care should be taken not to drop or crack the cured gourd. Allow it to dry thoroughly after use to prevent mold growth. With proper preparation and handling, a quality gourd can provide many years of enjoyable drinking.
Alternative Curing Methods
- A better way to cure your gourd is to add hot water, wait 20 minutes, scrape, and let it dry before using.
- I don’t believe in curing gourds because of the false claims. If you’re doing it for tradition, then by all means go for it. After you cure your gourd and use it, know how to take good care. A good gourd should last years.
- The gourd is also prone to mold if not dried correctly.
Benefits of Curing
While they represent short-term solutions for drinking mate tea on the go, lovers know that this infusion tastes better from a natural mate gourd or at least a wooden one. We will focus on curing these classic cups. Curing a gourd for flavor makes sense. And the curing process can save a gourd from leaks by swelling hairline cracks within the vessel.
To cure your gourd:
- Fill 2/3 with yerba mate and ash
- Add boiling water until full
- Leave for 48 hours so walls are impregnated.
Enjoy! The more you use the gourd, the better your mates will taste.
Yerba mate is traditionally drunk from a gourd. The gourd holds symbolic meaning, representing unity and communal sharing. Passing the gourd fosters camaraderie. The gourd is also eco-friendly and sustainable.
To use a mate gourd, fill it with yerba mate leaves. Pour hot, not boiling, water over the leaves to extract flavor without damaging them. The ideal temperature is 170°F (77°C). Using boiling water makes the drink bitter.
A metal straw called a bombilla filters the leaves as you drink, so only the infusion comes through.
Drinking mate is a beloved tradition. Argentinians consume up to 14 pounds per person annually, mostly in the mornings or evenings. Sharing mate with others forges emotional connections.
Use about 4 tablespoons of yerba mate per cup. Bring water to a near boil then let it rest 5 minutes before pouring. Add any additional herbs. Cover the top and invert the gourd to shake before enjoying.