How to Drink, Make and Share Mate

What you will need is a small cup/mug. Yerba Mate loose leaves. The straw (or bombilla) and hot water.

To find these things you can go to amazon. Look for “Yerba Mate Cup” which includes the cup + bombilla. Then look for “Yerba Mate loose leaf”. Some brands that I like are Rosamonte, Cruz de Malta and CVC)

Yerba Mate Cup

Yerba Mate Loose Leaf

Gather your Mate, straw (or bombilla), thermos, hot water, and most importantly your Yerba Mate (you can also use other vessels to drink yerba mate such as mason jars or mugs).

To drink Mate fill up the cup ½ to ¾ of the way with the yerba mate depending on your preference. I prefer to fill it ¾ because the taste is stronger.

Cover the mouth of the mate with your hand. Turn it over and shake it to even out the consistency of the Yerba Mate. Do it for about 5 seconds. When you uncover the mouth, you will notice that your hand has a green powder that is simply grounded leaves.

After shaking, the Yerba Mate inside should remain at a 45’ angle, so you have space to add the bombilla and water.

First add the straw (bombilla). Then pour a little bit of cold water to prevent burning the leaves when you add hot water.

Add hot water (70 C is perfect temperature) close to the straw (bombilla) to fill the mate.

Sip, Repeat, and (if you want) share :)

• Never EVER take out the bombilla from the mate. It is not a spoon!! If you take it out the whole ritual is ruined, and the Mate GOD will condemn you. (JK. But seriously, don’t take out the bombilla).
• Keep in mind that everyone drinks from the same bombilla. So, be respectful and don’t MAKE OUT with the bombilla, just... FRENCH kiss it.
• Everyone sharing mate must be in a circle (sitting or standing) or around a table where you can see and listen to everyone.
• There is only ONE person in charge of pouring the water called the Cebador. The cebador ALWAYS is the one to drink the first mate and start passing it around (either right or left).
• Once you finish your mate you should always give it back to the Cebador. They will fill it again and give it to the next person. If you want to thank the Cebador for giving you your mate, you should ALWAYS say it when you receive it. If you say it when you return it, it means you don’t want any more

(Due to covid-19 I recommend not sharing mate since drinking from the same straw than other people increases the probability of contagion. Be safe)

• Some Argentinians have special electric kettles that have the mate temperature already set.
• If you don't have a special electric kettle, an easy way to find out if the water is at the right temperature follow these steps: warm the water, pour it inside the thermos, once the thermos is filled cover the thermos with your hand. Count to 8s. If the vapor coming from the water burns your hands before you count to 8, it means the water is too hot. If the vapor doesn't burn your hand after 8s it means it is too cold. The perfect water temperature is when your hand burns at 8s.
• There is a special bag called La Matera, especially made to carry the Mate + Thermos with hot water.