The mate cup or hollow gourd is usually half full of mate tea. The gourds are made of metal, glass, wood, or clay. The brewer passes the gourd to each person in turn, in a circle. Everyone says thanks before drinking it and gives it back afterwards.
If you’re looking for unique cup designs, there are a wide range of materials and contemporary designs to choose from. Whether you prefer a traditional gourd or something more modern and stylish, there is a cup out there that will suit your taste.
Drinking large amounts of the herbal tea for a long time increases the risk of some types of cancer. This risk is especially high for people who smoke or drink alcohol.
The person who brings the mate cup and prepares it is referred to as the cebador. When people gather to drink the herbal tea from a gourd, there is even some degree of ceremony associated with this gathering.
In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about using and preparing the South American beverage, including how to use a mate cup, how to drink it from a regular cup or mug, and the best way to drink it with or without a bombilla straw.
The herbal tea is a tea-like drink that and one of the most popular drinks in Argentina. To use a mate cup, fill the gourd with leaves and pour hot water over the leaves. Drinking it is as common in South America as drinking coffee and tea in the rest of the world. It is traditionally drunk from a mate cup or container called a gourd. You sip it from a metallic or wooden straw with a filter on one of its ends.
The hollowed-out dried-up pumpkin which acts as a cup for the herbal tea is called the mate.
Do you need a special cup for the herbal tea?
If so, this is the guide for you. We have narrowed down the main aspects to consider when choosing a mate cup and created an easy 2-step tutorial.
- What type of mate will you be drinking? This is the most important one when deciding which mate cup to get.
The traditional gourd was developed by the Guarani people of South America and is made from a calabash squash but there are also many other types of mate cups available.
- Check out the various contemporary cup designs and materials available when looking for unique options.
Discover the best places to buy a mate cup and elevate your drinking experience. As an aficionado, I’ve scoured every nook and cranny to find the best places to buy this essential vessel for mate enjoyment.
The plant is harvested and brewed similar to tea, to make a specialty beverage popular throughout South America.
This comprehensive guide is designed to help you understand how much of the herbal tea per cup is ideal for the perfect brew.
Once you’ve given your maté a few shakes, flip it upright again and try to give it a 45-degree slope. You should have a mountain of yerba on one side of the cup, and a void on the other (this is where the water will go).
Can I drink the herbal tea without the cup?
The plant produces evergreen leaves used to make the herbal tea. This beverage is popular in Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Chile. There are 4 main components for drinking it:
You can get 20+ top-ups in your average cup of the herbal tea so a flask is a good idea to enjoy it for hours. Traditionally, it was shared communally. The words "Drank, Pass, Fill" form this experience. Aside from modern germ concerns, it bonds community/friends.
The flavor varies by region as soil quality influences the Alkaloid/Xanthene levels in the leaves.
I wouldn’t brew the herbal tea with a coffee maker as it imparts coffee flavor regardless of using new filters. Other methods are convenient, easy and fun.
How Much of the herbal tea Per Cup? Use 2-3 tablespoons per cup on average. Some may use more/less depending on strength preference, cup size and taste buds.
The traditional gourd was developed by the Guarani people of South America and is made from a calabash squash. Many other cup types now exist too.
Never use boiling water, 140-170°F works best. For every 8 ounces, use 1 tablespoon of yerba. Add less/more to adjust to your liking.
What is the name of the special container to drink the herbal tea?
The traditional gourd varies in shape and size and possesses a very hard shell.
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What type of mate will you be drinking? This is the most important question when deciding which mate cup to get.
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Check out the various contemporary cup designs and materials available when looking for unique options.
The straw is traditionally made of silver and called a bombilla.
When preparing the herbal tea, make a half-moon of leaves sitting at an angle on the bottom of the gourd and leave space at the top. Insert the bombilla and lay it flat over the leaves. Pour hot water, avoiding the dry leaves. Drink until you hear slurping noises.
The bombilla is the special straw with a filter used to drink the herbal tea. It prevents leaves from going into the mouth. The traditional bombilla is made of bamboo but this tends to clog so other materials are now often used.
The traditional way to drink the herbal tea is from a mate cup or gourd using a bombilla. This allows you to filter out the leaves and fully appreciate the flavor. If you don’t have these, you can still prepare mate in a regular cup using a spoon or strainer to remove leaves.