Yerba mate is a traditional South American drink known for its clean, long-lasting energy. But most beginners in the U.S. have no idea where to start.
This guide will explain exactly what yerba mate is, how it compares to coffee and tea, what equipment you actually need, and how to prepare it step-by-step.
By the end, you’ll know which yerba mate to buy, which gourd and bombilla are best for beginners, and how to make your first mate the right way.
You can also jump to our complete preparation tutorial or see yerba mate versus coffee if you're comparing caffeine options.
What Is Yerba Mate?
Yerba mate is a traditional South American drink made by steeping the dried leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis plant - similar to tea. It’s rich in natural caffeine, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, along with a long list of beneficial plant compounds.
In Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Paraguay, yerba mate is more than just a drink - it’s a daily ritual deeply woven into their culture and community.
For beginners, yerba mate offers a clean, long-lasting energy boost without the crash or jitters of coffee. It’s now growing fast in the U.S. as more people discover its natural health benefits.
All you need to start is yerba mate and something to steep and strain it (like a french press or tea pot). But for the complete, authentic experience, preparing it in a gourd with a bombilla is highly recommended (which I'll show you how below).
What Does Yerba Mate Taste Like?
We'll be the first to admit - yerba mate is bitter. It's an acquired taste like coffee, wine, tea, etc. But that shouldn't scare you...
Most yerbas you'll come across will taste like a strong, earthy, green tea. But the flavor profile can range widely from brand to brand depending on how long the yerba's aged, where it's grown, how it's dried, how it's cut, and more.
Some can be very bitter, some very light. Some can even be fruity, nutty, bready, and chocolatey.
There isn't a single "best tasting" yerba, but one for everyone and their tastebuds. And you'll find this to be the greatest part about getting into mate - exploring different flavors, notes, textures, until one day... you land on the perfect one for you.
What You Need to Get Started
Or Get Everything In One Kit!-
Yerba Mate
Grab A BagThe actual leaves you brew. Start with a smooth, beginner-friendly blend like La Palma or Cruz De Malta.
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Mate Gourd (Cup)
Browse GourdsTraditional cup used to prepare and drink yerba mate. Pick from stainless steel to natural calabash.
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Bombilla (Filtered Straw)
View BombillasStraw with a built-in strainer that lets you drink mate without swallowing the leaves.
How To Prepare Yerba Mate For Beginners
You don’t need to memorize the mate ritual or do anything complicated - here’s the simple, to-the-point version.
1. Fill the gourd halfway with yerba mate. (Use more or less depending on how strong you want it.)
2. Cover the top with your palm and shake at an angle. This creates the mountain and moves the smaller particles to the top.
3. Pour in a splash of room-temp water. This prevents the mate from being too bitter.
4. Insert bombilla on the water side, reaching the bottom of the gourd and pressed against the yerba.
5. Fill with hot water (140-170ºF). NEVER use boiling water
6. Sip and keep refilling. Make sure to pour on the wet half until it loses flavor, then incorporate some of the dry yerba
Watch it done step-by-step below!
Yerba Mate VS Coffee
Most people find yerba mate gives them smooth energy without the crash or jitters of coffee. Here’s a quick side-by-side so you can see the difference before trying it:
| Yerba Mate | Coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth, long-lasting energy | ||
| Similar taste to tea | ||
| Low chance of jitters/anxiety | ||
| Multiple refills from one serving | ||
| Can be shared socially | ||
| Doesn’t upset most stomachs |
The Easiest Way To Get Started (Beginner's Starter Kit)
This is the exact setup we’ve used to help thousands of beginners make their first real mate at home, and it's curated based off years of drinking mate. We've tried and reviewed close to a hundred brands and honed in on the best one for beginners to be featured in our yerba mate kit below.
No guesswork, no wasted money on poor equipment, and no “why does this taste so bitter?”
Couldn't load pickup availability
- Includes 500g of Cruz De Malta, a stainless steel gourd, and stainless steel bombilla
- Beginner-friendly yerba for a mild, smooth taste and is easy to prepare
- Stainless steel gourd makes for easy cleaning, no curing, and no risk of mold
- The set is meant to grow with you, and can work for all types of yerba as you explore
- Fast U.S. shipping (2-5 days) & international shipping (1-4 weeks)
What Beginners Are Saying
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Do I need a gourd and bombilla to drink yerba mate?
No. You can use a classic tea strainer, tea pot, french press, or anything else that allows you to steep and strain the leaves. But the traditional setup (gourd + bombilla) gives a stronger flavor and effect.
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Why did you choose these specific items for the starter kit?
Out of all the yerbas we've tried (80+), we picked the smoothest yerba that best represents the traditional flavor, a ready-to-use stainless steel gourd, and a spoon bombilla that filters well and helps form a mountain, so beginners get good results on the first try and can use it for other types of yerbas on their mate journey.
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What if my first yerba mate tastes bitter?
A bitter mate is almost always caused by water that’s too hot, by steeping all the yerba at once, or letting it steep for too long. We always suggest starting at the lowest of 140ºF to minimize the bitterness, then work your way up from there. If you follow our tutorial on how to prepare yerba mate, it should make for the best flavor.
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Do I need to cure the gourd before using it?
No! For our starter kit, we specifically include a stainless steel gourd so you don't have to cure it and can use it right away. Only natural calabash and wooden gourds need to be cured.
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How do I clean the bombilla and gourd?
After each use, dump out the yerba from the gourd and rinse both under warm water (no soap is needed) and pat dry with a paper towel. For a deeper clean on the bombilla, you can boil it in hot water with a tablespoon of baking soda for 20 minutes. This only needs to be done every couple weeks.
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Does yerba mate cause jitters or anxiety?
It can simply due to it containing caffeine. But most people experience a calmer, cleaner energy with yerba mate since it also contains theophylline, theobromine, antioxidants, and more. And these can all play a role in the effect it gives you.
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Is yerba mate stronger than coffee?
Yerba mate has a similar amount of caffeine per serving, but most people say the energy feels smoother and lasts longer, without the crash or jitters coffee can cause. As for taste, it will vary by brand but mate prepared the traditional way will typically taste more bitter due to its higher leaf-to-water ratio.
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How long does yerba mate last after opening?
Stored away from heat and humidity, yerba mate can stay fresh for years past its expiration.
