The drink is made by steeping dried leaves from the yerba mate plant in hot water. It’s an iconic South American drink, particularly popular in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Referred to as the “drink of the Gods”, this caffeinated beverage has a long history and tradition.
The infusion is prepared by filling a container with yerba leaves, pouring hot (not boiling) water over them, and drinking the beverage with a straw. The straw, called a bombilla, acts as a filter to draw only liquid. The beverage is traditionally drunk from a gourd vessel or cuia. The cuia is filled with yerba leaves, hot water is added, and the infusion is sipped through the bombilla.
The flavor is earthy, somewhat bitter and astringent. Adding citrus brightens the flavor. Beyond just a drink, mate brings people together.
Tips for Good Taste
To make it taste good, add honey or creamer, but not necessary if you follow basic rules. You don’t need a gourd or bombilla; whatever you use for coffee or tea, use that.
Welcome to The Buying Guide, where you’ll learn everything to buy yerba mate and start drinking like a True Mate Drinker. Maybe you’ve just heard about it, maybe you’re asking “what is yerba mate?,” or maybe you have experience. This is a guide that’ll give you confidence to properly purchase right equipment (mateware) and Yerba Mate perfect for you.
Mate Cups
Mate cups come in all shapes, sizes and materials: bone to silicone, wood to ceramic, glass, metal and gourd.
The Bombilla
A bombilla is a metal straw used to filter out the yerba mate leaves. To use a bombilla, first fill the mate gourd with yerba mate leaves and hot water. The bombilla has a filter at the bottom, which keeps the yerba mate leaves from entering your mouth as you sip. Sip from the bombilla and enjoy!
Origin
To begin, it’s important to mention that the bombilla was created solely for the purpose of consuming yerba mate. It was created by the Guaran peoples, a collection of South American indigenous tribes, many years ago.
How to Clean
How do you clean the straw?
Yerba mate brings compounds that over time stain and harden. We don’t always clean bombillas right away after drinking. Rinse thoroughly after each use to restore flavor.
The bombilla filters leaves while sipping. Cleaning enhances flavor and safety. Rinse thoroughly, scrub gently, and store properly.
Bombilla Types
Spoon bombillas work best with powdery yerba. Bamboo bombillas are affordable and easy to use and clean. Stainless steel doesn’t rust and is dishwasher safe.
You need a gourd, bombilla and hot water. Understand how to use the bombilla. Filter particles with the gourd, insert bombilla and enjoy.
Tips
Large bags will last weeks. Bitterness just is. Long-time fans take it straight. Add minimal sugar to improve flavor. Too much sugar makes it unpleasant.