Yerba Mate Bombillas

After testing tons of bombillas over the years, we've nailed it down to one type that works the absolute best... And that's a spoon bombilla which is why our entire collection features ONLY this type. Spoon bombillas work with coarse-cut Argentine yerba to fine, powdery Brazilian chimarrão, and everything in between. For the absolute best filtration, please take note of the number of holes on the filter. The more, the better.

Everything You Need To Know!

FAQs About Bombillas

A bombilla is a special metal straw used for drinking yerba mate. It acts as both a straw and a filter, straining the yerba and letting only the liquid through. Traditional yerba mate bombillas can be made of stainless steel, alpaca (a nickel silver alloy), and even bamboo. The strainer head can come in different shapes and sizes, each with their own pros and cons.

To use a bombilla, it's all about positioning. When preparing your mate, fill your gourd about 2/3 with yerba, tilt it to one side, pour in a bit of water, let it soak for 2-3 minutes, then insert the bombilla on the hollow side - positioning it to where the filter head is at the bottom of the gourd and against the mountain of yerba. The straw should rest against the rim of the gourd and stand on its own. Now, just pour and sip. No stirring needed.

If you’re new to mate, start with a stainless steel spoon bombilla. It’s durable, easy to clean, and works with all types of yerba. If you want to save future headaches though, we highly suggest our 1000-hole bombas for the smoothest, clog-free filtration, especially if you plan on drinking chimarrão. If not, the rest of our collection will serve all your yerba needs.

Rinse your bombilla after each mate session and run a cleaning brush through the straw. Soap isn't necessary. For a deeper clean (recommended to do every 1-2 months depending on usage), boil them in a pan with 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda, and run a cleaning brush through it and rinse once more.

No. Some styles are better suited for certain cuts. The only filter type that does work for all cuts is a spoon bombilla which is why we only offer them on our store. They work great for fine-cut Brazilian chimarrão, coarse Argentine cuts, and everything in between.

Bombillas come in different lengths and the size should be considered when picking one to pair with your mate gourd. From our experience, 7 inches (18cm) tends to be the sweet spot that fits most gourds. 8 inches (20cm) and above works well for larger/deeper gourds. And around 6 inches (15cm), works best for smaller ones. Unfortunately, due to the natural variation of calabash gourds, we cannot guarantee a bombilla to be a perfect fit. However, when you order with us, we always do our best to pick out a gourd that pairs best with the bombilla you get.