Reusing yerba mate is a common question many people have.

And whether or not you should do it, really comes down to safety and preference.

However, this question can mean two different things so let’s break it down one by one…

Reusing Yerba Mate

First, when people ask whether they can reuse yerba mate, they’re sometimes talking about when you prepare yerba mate and keep refilling your gourd. If that’s the case, then absolutely. That’s what you’re supposed to do.

When drinking from a gourd or even a mug, you can (and should) refill it as many times as needed until all the flavor is gone. And depending on the gourd size and the amount of yerba mate you use, this can range from 10 to 20 to even 30 refills.

So in this scenario, you can definitely keep reusing the yerba.

But if you plan on reusing yerba that’s been leftover from the previous day, that’s a different question…

Reusing Yerba Mate From The Other Day

In this scenario, it goes something like this…

You prepared yourself a gourd, drank a few refills, and for whatever reason, couldn’t finish it all. Maybe you had to go somewhere, got caught up in things, or simply couldn’t handle all the stimulation. So you leave the yerba in your gourd til the next day and wonder if it’s safe to drink.

Well the answer is complicated.

When in this position, you first have to figure out if there’s mold. You can determine this either by seeing fuzzy green/white spots or by smelling something funky or sour. If that’s the case, it’s clearly not safe to consume and should be tossed out immediately.

But what if you don’t notice these things?

Then you can drink it.

Just be warned…

It may not taste as good as when it was freshly made because it cooled down. The first few refills will be off-putting, but afterwards, it should taste like new.

The Best Way To Reuse Yerba Mate

Although most people can safely leave their gourd sitting until the next day, it’s not a great idea to do so.

This puts your gourd at high risk of growing mold.

If you plan on reusing yerba later in the day or the next day, you should do a few things to prevent it from spoiling.

Like you would with food, cover your gourd with plastic wrap to prevent it from going stale, then stick it in the fridge to keep it fresh. Another thing you should do is avoid using a calabash or wooden gourd as they store moisture and can increase the chances of mold. Instead, go for a silicone, ceramic, glass, or stainless steel gourd if you plan on leaving it overnight.

Final Words

Reusing leftover yerba mate is completely fine as long as there’s no invasion of mold.

But in general, I wouldn’t suggest making it a habit.

It’s a surefire way to ruin your calabash or wooden gourd. If with any other gourd though, it’s not a problem. It just won’t taste too good the second time around.

The best thing to do is to always finish your gourd in one session.

If you can’t, you might want to look for a smaller gourd. You might also want to try preparing yerba mate in a french press, coffee maker, or teapot, so you can brew the exact amount you want as well as prevent damaging your gourd.

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