There are many types of yerba mate gourds - each offering a different experience. Some are more traditional, some are easier to maintain, and some are better suited for travel or daily use.
If you're looking to buy one, shop our yerba mate gourds to see all available styles. Otherwise, keep reading to find out which type is right for you."
In this guide, we’ll break down the main types of gourds, how they compare, and what each one is best suited for.
To make the decision easier, let’s first look at the main types and how they differ.
Types Of Yerba Mate Gourds
The types of gourds are categorized by material. And depending on which you go with, will affect the overall drinking experience. Here are seven that you'll likely come across
Calabash Gourds (Natural & Traditional Choice)
Calabashes have been used for centuries and remain the most traditional vessel for drinking yerba mate.
They're made of a dried, hollowed-out calabash (squash plant), and can come in different shapes based on the gourd species and how they're cut.
Calabashes are delicate and require the most maintenance. They need to be cured when you get them. If you're unsure how, follow this guide on how to cure a mate gourd. They also can risk getting moldy if not taken care of properly.
Despite the extra care and attention that’s required though, they've stood the test of time because not only is each gourd naturally one-of-a-kind, but with time, can also improve the flavor of your mate.
Calabashes can be decorated an infinite amount of ways. But to simplify it, they come in one of these three shapes:
- Torpedo (bowl-like)
- Imperial (U-shaped interior)
- Camionero/Cuia (hourglass shape/flared opening)
Wooden Mates (Flavor/Aroma Enhancer)
Wooden mates are another traditional material.
In Argentina, these are usually made of carob (algarrobo) or palo santo wood, which both come from South America. In Brazil, you can more commonly find ones made from imbuia.
These are just as fragile as calabashes and can crack/split easily and grow mold as well. Wooden mates also require curing and if well taken care of, can last a lifetime.
Again, despite the extra care and attention, these can also improve the taste of your mate. Especially with carob and palo santo wood which both have a strong and distinct aroma.
Ceramic Mate Cup (A Modern Alternative)
Ceramic is a natural material that isn't too common for yerba mate. However, they do have a lot of advantages compared to calabash and wooden options.
With these types, you don’t have to cure them, they're easy to clean, and you never have to worry about mold.
What you do have to worry about though is dropping it, as ceramics can easily crack. Quick changes in temperature can also potentially cause it to shatter.
Stainless Steel Mate Cup (Most Durable & Low-Maintenance)
Stainless steel mate cups are the easiest type to go with as they're simple to clean and extremely durable. Unlike ceramic, these can withstand drops and are nearly impossible to crack.
They don't need to be cured, they won't grow mold, and can essentially be treated like a regular cup at home.
The best thing about them though is they can help keep your mate hot or cold. Which is why these are just as popular as calabashes nowadays. Some even are designed to look like traditional gourds.
Silicone Yerba Mate Gourd (Flexible & Indestructible)
Silicone is a modern option designed for portability and durability.
These don't need curing, are mold-resistant, and is impossible to break, making it a practical choice for travel or outdoor use. The flexible material also makes it easy to pack into a bag or backpack.
While silicone doesn’t retain heat as well as stainless steel or ceramic, but it's a cheap, convenient, and low maintenance option.
Guampa/Cow Horn (A Traditional Paraguayan Vessel)
Guampas are traditionally used in Paraguay and are made from cow horns, giving it a distinct curved/tapered look. These also need to be cured and are only meant to be used for tereré, since hot water can cause it to crack.
In a practical sense, guampas offer no real benefit over other types of gourds. However, they do look great and is a cool piece to add to your collection.
What To Consider When Comparing Materials
With all these options available, it's easy to get confused. But the main thing to consider is maintenance.
If you don't mind the maintenance, go with organic materials. Calabash, wood, and cow horn need to be cured before using them and dried properly to avoid mold. To some, this can feel time-consuming, but for those who want the full traditional experience, these are the way to go.
If you want as little maintenance as possible, go with non-organic materials. Cups made of stainless steel, silicone, and ceramic don't need to be cured and are mold-resistant. But you do miss out on the enhanced flavor that calabash and wood can offer.
What Type Is Used In Each Country?
Because there are different types of yerba mate in each mate-drinking country, they usually have a common gourd they're known for.
Argentina
In Argentina, smaller, round calabashes tend to be preferred, along with algarrobo wooden gourds. Because their yerba is coarser and contains more stems, their preparation is a lot more forgiving and doesn't require much attention. Sometimes, you'll even see them use small enameled steel cups.
Paraguay
In Paraguay, guampas are traditionally used. However, stainless steel is also popular as it can help keep their terere cold. And they usually come in a rectangular shape.
Uruguay
In Uruguay, larger calabashes with a wider opening are more common to accomodate for their finer-cut yerba. Styles such as the torpedo, imperial, and camionero originate here, and have become so popular that other countries started adopting their designs. These gourds allow them to prepare a nice mountain of mate to help prevent clogs and for better filtration.
Brazil
In Brazil, they commonly use a specific type of calabash, which in Portuguese are called cuias. These are typically larger, and feature an hourglass shape with a wide, flared opening to make preparing their powdery erva mate (chimarrão) a lot easier. But other styles such as the galleta, getulinho, coquinho, and bago de touro can also be found.
From traditional calabash to modern stainless steel, each type offers a different balance of ritual, maintenance, convenience, and style to fit everyone's tastes.
And once you understand how the materials, shapes, and traditions differ, it becomes much easier to figure out which one makes the most sense for you.
If you want to explore different styles further, you can shop our mate gourds here.
1 comment
I wouldn’t hesitate choosing a calabash gourd if you are a “beginner”. The few required skills are easily learned, like how to butter toast, and should not deter you. The traditions are born from efficient practicality, it makes sense and works well. I have been using the first gourd I bought in Argentina for over 30 years; I have dropped it many times, taken it camping and my 16 year old son takes it to school with a thermos of hot water often, where I’m sure it is not treated with tender care. I consider it one of the most durable, functional, best value-for-cost and environmentally friendly products I have ever bought. I like the way the it warms your hands, and the maintenance is insignificant.
When you buy a new one, it will probably be kind of rough inside. It is not necessary, but nice if you can get a sheet of coarse sandpaper and sand back any dried stringy bits or fleshy parts of the gourd that weren’t scraped out completely before it was dried.
Curing is just making a maté and letting it sit for a while then tossing it out to saturate the gourd with maté flavour. If you don’t, your first couple of maté will be gourd flavour.
To prevent mold, simply compost the spent leaves and rinse the gourd out with the last of your hot water, and allow the gourd to dry. It will only mold if you keep it wet all the time. If you drink maté several times a day, get a couple of gourds and use one for the day while the other has a chance to dry out. It is like a towel, if you never allow it to dry completely, it will get gross. But unlike a towel, you never need to actually wash it, just rinse and let dry.
Honestly, I think all of other kinds are just the usual human habit of trying to fix what isn’t broken, I can not think of a single situation other than maybe space travel that I would be in when I would choose something other than the gourd.