So you heard about yerba mate but don’t know the best way to get started.
This guide will walk you through all the basics you need to know such as:
- What yerba mate to buy
- What mate gourd to get
- Which bombilla is best
- How to prepare it
And a lot more.
Looking back now, there were lots of things I would’ve done differently as a beginner. Which I had to learn the hard way over the years.
And if you didn't like mate the first time, it's very likely you missed something mentioned below so let's get straight to it.
First, here's is a quick video overview to give you a general idea:
What You Need To Get Started
Before you read anything else in this post, you need to get your yerba mate equipment together.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Yerba mate
- Mate gourd
- Bombilla
Now after hearing this, the usual question that follows is, Which ones should I get?
There are tons of different types so let's break each one down.
Best Yerba Mate For Beginners
There are four types of yerba mate – Argentinian, Uruguayan, Paraguayan, and Brazilian. Each country has their own features and characteristics with some being more suitable for beginners and others not.
The most beginner-friendly type is from Argentina.
Why?
Because their yerba is more mild and light in taste. Argentine brands have a classic earthy, woody flavor that best resembles tea so it'll likely have a familiar taste. The yerba is also coarsely cut, making it easy to prepare for someone new.
With brands from the neighboring regions, not so much.
But not all brands are built the same.
There are hundreds coming from Argentina. And over the years, I've tried over 50 of them, and the one I've found to be the best for beginners is Cruz De Malta.
Cruz was one of the first brands I’ve ever had. And it has a lovely woody, buttery taste without being too bitter, but still strong enough to show you what yerba mate is about. We have recommended this brand to many of our followers and received great feedback on it being a good yerba to start with.
So now that you have your yerba, it’s time pick out a mate gourd…
Best Gourd For Beginners
A gourd or mate is what you use to drink yerba mate from.
Gourds are technically referring to cups made from calabash, but is used interchangeably to reference any cup used for mate
There are many types of mate gourds out there, making choosing one hard, but there’s one specific gourd I always recommend to beginners and that’s a stainless steel gourd.
These gourds require minimal care and attention. They’re durable, easy to clean, won’t mold, and can even help keep your mate hot. Not to mention, they also have a nice sleek design and are the perfect size – not too small and not too big – which is something many beginners overlook.
One of the biggest mistakes I made starting out was getting a gourd that was too small. Not only did this prevent me from drinking enough, but it also made the infusion very concentrated. My first sip was much bitter than it should’ve been. But the size of stainless steel gourds prevent this from happening.
Now of course, stainless steel gourds aren’t traditional.
Which is why in addition to this gourd, I also recommend you get a calabash gourd, though totally optional. But if you want to full experience and intend to get deeper into mate, it's a must-have.
Calabash gourds are made from of a dried, hollowed out squash. It’s what the Guarani tribes used centuries ago to drink mate. However, they do require the most care. If not careful, they can easily crack, break, and grow mold (you’ll learn how to prevent this in a minute), but they’re also the most rewarding.
No gourd can offer an experience like a calabash gourd can. Knowing they're all one-of-a-kind, natural, handcrafted, and a part of a tradition long before you were even born, gives your drinking experience a unique quality and element to it. Plus, the more you use it, the better it gets as it becomes "seasoned".
If you plan on getting one to start, browse our full collection of mate gourds here.
Best Bombilla For Beginners
Now that you have a yerba and a gourd, the last thing you need is a bombilla (filtered straw). These also come in numerous shapes, sizes, and designs. But there’s only one type of bombilla everyone needs, and that’s a spoon bombilla.
Spoon bombillas not only provide the best filtration, but they also serve as a tool for forming a nice mountain of mate. It also makes cleaning out the yerba from your gourd easier when finished.
All you need to do is pick the correct size for your gourd. If the gourd’s small, you need a small bombilla. If the gourd’s big, you need a big bombilla to match.
If you want to take the guesswork out of that, you can grab one of our complete yerba mate kits.
How To Cure Your Calabash Gourd
Traditionally, calabash gourds are cured before they're used.
This was done for several traditional beliefs such as preventing cracks and mold, and "sealing the pores".
However, the only real benefit is to improve the flavor of the mate by extracting the calabash's bitter tannins. As well as to clean out any leftover plant material and debris.
If you decide to cure your mate gourd, you can read our step-by-step guide.
How To Prepare Yerba Mate
To learn how to prepare yerba mate, watch our instructional video below or read our step-by-step guide.
In short, fill your gourd about 1/2 way with yerba, cover the the top with your palm and shake it upside-down, bring it back to a 45º angle to form a slope, fill the empty side with water, steep, insert your bombilla under the mountain of mate, fill with water again, and drink.
Alternative Preparation Methods
Now although I always recommend preparing yerba mate the traditional way, you can always prepare it in a french press, coffee maker, or even a tea pot just like you would with coffee or any other tea. This would be the most cost-effective approach if you have these items at home already, but the entire experience will never compare to a gourd. When possible, move onto one ASAP.
What Does Yerba Mate Taste Like?
Your first sip probably won’t be that great. It’ll most likely taste like dirt, soil, grass, and smoke. But trust me, it gets better.
Yerba mate is an acquired taste you have to get used to just like wine and coffee. So long as you keep drinking it every day, you’ll soon fall in love with its earthy bitterness. And if you keep at it for longer, you’ll be able to start detecting the subtle notes and nuances between each brand.
How To Clean & Maintain Your Gourd Afterwards
After every session, it’s recommended to clean your gourd as soon as possible. Depending on your environment, you can get away with not cleaning it for 24 hours, but any longer than that and you’re probably going to find mold. So don’t forget!
In short, you want to toss all the yerba in the garbage, rinse your gourd under warm water, then dry it with a paper towel, ensuring there’s no yerba left behind. Once finished, rest your gourd on its side anywhere that’s cool and dry (under direct sunlight is even better).
How To Get Rid Of Mold
If during the unfortunate event that you happen to find mold in your gourd despite what you’ve done to prevent it, you can easily get rid of it with some hot water and lemon juice. Read our full guide on how to get rid of mold here.
Just don’t confuse mold with the natural curing and coloration of your gourd. You see, every time you use your calabash, the interior walls get stained green/brown/black from the yerba. This is completely normal and part of the curing process. However, if you see something fuzzy, then it’s time to take action.
If you made it up to this point, you now know everything you need to know as a beginner to start drinking yerba mate.
Now all you need to do is grab your equipment to make your first mate.
So don't wait!
We've prepared a special Beginner’s Yerba Mate Kit including all the items mentioned above to get you started.
