The good old calabash yerba mate gourd…

These gourds have been used for generations by the indigenous tribes of South America to consume yerba mate. Still used and sold to this day, the ritual of drinking mate from a calabash gourd has never died down – showing the true lasting strength of its tradition.

If you’re new to yerba mate, you’ve definitely run into these gourds at least once and wondered what it was.

Well, in today’s post you’re going to learn all about them so by the time you finish reading, you’ll know how to choose one, how to take care of one, and much more. I’ll also be dispelling some myths/misconceptions around the gourd to further your understanding as a true matero.

Let’s start!

What’s A Calabash Yerba Mate Gourd Made Of?

Calabash gourds are often mistaken for wooden gourds.

With the same solid, rigid structure, it’s not hard to see out why. But there’s a big difference between the two.

Mainly, wooden gourds are made from wood (obviously) while calabash gourds are actually made from a squash plant. These plants are cut, hollowed out, dried, polished, and sometimes hand-carved to create a unique design. The finished product is a gourd as solid as a glass cup, yet, just as fragile.

If you drop it on a hard surface, the chance of it cracking/breaking is near 100%. But if you prevent this from happening, your gourd can live longer than you do.

Unless you don’t take care of it…

Simple Tips For Caring For A Calabash

Calabash gourds require care and attention which scares most people away from getting one.

But it shouldn’t.

Cleaning your gourd is very simple.

Just keep these few things in mind…

After each use, make sure you get rid of every leaf and stem (literally, every single one) in your gourd and pat the inside with a paper towel. Then place it in a sunny, cool, dry area. Also, never leave yerba mate in your gourd for an extended period of time (max – 2 days) as this will increase the chances of mold. And never use soap. Only warm water.

If you do all the above, your gourd will stay in tip-top shape.

On Curing

One of the first things you’ll hear about calabash mate gourds is that they need to be cured for several reasons including preventing cracks, mold, a bitter mate, and to remove loose plant material. But contrary to popular belief, only the last reason is valid.

And despite this age-old tradition, it’s not mandatory either. Simply using the gourd will produce the same effect.

However, if you wish to cure it anyway to be safe, by all means do so.

Curing a gourd can be as simple as filling it with hot water, letting it sit for 20 minutes, then scraping out the loose membrane. Or it can be as wasteful and drawn out as filling it with yerba mate and hot water, letting it sit for a day, scraping, then repeating once more.

On Taste

Another common misconception people have when it comes to calabash gourds is that they improve the flavor of your mate. It’s believed that every time you use it, the gourd soaks the flavor of the tea so for the next time, the mate tastes even better.

But I never found this to be true.

Even with my calabash gourd which I’ve probably used 100+ times already, I never noticed a difference. It always tasted the same to me.

On Preparation

Preparing yerba mate in a calabash gourd is like any other gourd except for one minor difference – most calabashes have a little stem directly in the middle. This stem is a natural part of the plant that you don’t want to mess with or else your gourd may leak.

So when preparing your mate, you want to avoid hitting it with your bombilla. Unlike other gourds, you can’t just slide your bombilla right under the mountain of mate. Instead, you want to slide the straw right above the stem, then stab it straight through the mountain to the bottom.

Is It Worth Getting?

After reading all the above, you might think calabash mate gourds are a nuisance. You have to clean them, cure them, and take extra care of them.

But the truth is…

No gourd compares to a calabash gourd.

The natural feel, its rich history, and long-lived tradition sets it apart from all the other gourds in the world.

It just feels right which is why I’ve always recommended drinkers to have at least one.

I own all types of gourds – steel, glass, wood, silicone – and 9 times out of 10, my calabash is usually the one I reach for. It’s also a unique piece to show friends and family as you introduce them to yerba mate. You’ll always get these intrigued looks as they want you to tell them more about it.

And that folks, is how this tradition in today’s world continues to spread around.

The calabash mate gourd is more than just a cup, but a way to reconnect with history, as well as with others.

So is it worth getting?

100%.

I’ve never heard someone regret owning one unless they didn’t take care of it properly, but you just learned how.

If you want to put what you learned to practice today, and experience yerba mate the way it’s supposed to,

Click Here Now To Get A New Calabash From Our Store!