There’s a lot that goes into drinking yerba mate. And if you don’t take proper responsibility, you can ruin your yerba mate experience.

Yerba mate can be overwhelming for people just starting out.

You need to learn about all the equipment you’ll need, how to actually prepare yerba mate, how to cure your gourds, and a bunch of other things.

But there are some things you need to take into more consideration than anything else. And that’s what I’m going to be addressing in this post.

You see, it only takes one small mistake to ruin everything.

So if you’re a beginner, then you want to read this post carefully to make sure you don’t make these stupid mistakes.

Or even if you’re a bit experienced, this will be a good reminder for you.

Let’s start…

Mistake #1: Using Boiling Water

I’m sure you already know this and heard everyone say this to you. But it’s so important to not make this mistake.

Why?

For three reasons.

First, using boiling water can make your mate taste extremely bitter. Coffee, as well as other teas, have different optimal water temperatures to extract the most flavor (etc.) out of them. Yerba mate is no different.

If the temperature is too high, it’ll extract too much, making the mate too bitter. And vice versa, low temperatures won’t extract anything, making the mate lacking in flavor.

The best water temperature for yerba mate is anywhere between 155º-175º Fahrenheit (68º-80ºC).

Another reason to not use boiling water is to prevent your gourd from cracking. This only applies to calabash and wooden gourds. Both of these gourds are sensitive to extreme temperatures, especially wood. Silicone, ceramic, and glass, are completely fine.

But it’s still not a smart idea to use boiling hot water, despite what gourd you’re using.

Why?

Current studies linked drinking hot water to increased risk of oesophageal cancer. This still is NOT definite yet. More research needs to be done. However, what’s been shown at the moment is constant irritation can lead to cancer. And according to IARC, drinking hot water (considered as 149ºF or 65ºC) can damage the lining of your esophagus.

Mistake #2: Moving The Bombilla

Keeping on the topic of preparing yerba mate, another common mistake people make is moving the bombilla.

DO NOT do this.

Once you set the bombilla in your gourd, it must stay there. Moving it can ruin the filtration and clog up your straw.

It also moves around the dust and can crush some leaves, making it easier for you to suck them up.

Another reason to avoid this mistake is simply because of tradition. If you are ever drinking mate with Argentines, Uruguayans, etc. the cebador (server) will place the bombilla in the best spot for filtration. You don’t want to touch it after that.

Mistake #3: Leaving Mate In Your Gourd

This is a common mistake beginners make that leave them upset and never wanting to drink mate again.

So listen closely…

NEVER leave used yerba mate in your gourd. Not even for a day.

Doing so will almost certainly lead to mold which isn’t pretty.

Your gourd will be covered in fuzzy green and white spots. And you’ll be tempted to throw out your gourd.

The best thing to do is once you’re finished with your mate, dump all the leaves out immediately. Make sure you rinse it until no particles – not even a speck – are left inside. And then store it in a place where no mold will grow. But if you do accidentally forget and leave yerba in your gourd, just make sure you clean it out as soon as possible.

Mistake #4: Thinking Your Gourd Is Molding When It’s Not

If you ever look inside your gourd and see there some dark greenish/black spots, your first reaction might be that it’s mold.

And you might even want to throw it out in the trash because of how gross it looks.

But before you do that, it’s probably something else…

It can be the natural curing process of your gourd. You see, every time you drink mate from a calabash, the yerba will stain it. Then over time (after a few days or weeks), the gourd will start to get this green tint. And the more you keep using it, the darker it will become.

Many mistake this for mold. Meanwhile, it’s actually a good thing. The darker it is, the more seasoned your gourd is. And it can add a bit more flavor to your mate.

So how do you tell the difference?

Mold has a fuzzy, hairy look. Or if you try cleaning it and it comes off, it’s mold. Otherwise, it’s just the natural color of your gourd.

You can learn how to get rid of mold here.

Mistake #5: Not Cleaning/Storing Your Gourd Correctly

This is the last mistake on this list, and it’s one of the most important.

If you’re not cleaning or storing your gourd correctly, mold will almost always grow on it. Remember to avoid making mistake #3 as well.

Making both mistakes is simply asking for trouble.

Here’s how to avoid mistake #5…

Cleaning is obvious. But you have to be very attentive. After you’re done drinking, you should get rid of all the leaves inside. By all of them, I mean all of them. Don’t let even one small leaf stay in there.

Then just rinse it out with water, and get a paper towel to soak up as much water inside the gourd.

Now here’s the important part…

You MUST place your gourd on its side and in a sunny, cool, and dry place. Mold is not able to grow in these conditions. The reason you put your gourd on its side is to let air get in to dry it quicker.

Click here to learn how to clean your gourd in more detail.

Final Words

Just writing this post makes me feel like yerba mate is extremely complicated. But it’s not.

Yerba mate just requires a bit more care and responsibility. Which is great because it teaches you to focus on minor details.

If you made these mistakes before, you’re now well-equipped and know exactly what to do if it happens.

Or if you are completely new to yerba mate, you now know what to keep an eye out for.

These mistakes are very common.

And it can get worse if you don’t take them into consideration.

A lot of people already suffered from them.

Learn from their mistakes.

P.S. If you enjoyed this article, you might also want to check out our store because we offer yerba mate, gourds, and bombillas you’ll love.