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 You Need to Get Started
Or Get Everything In One Kit!-
Yerba Mate
Grab A BagThe actual plant 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 mate. Pick the style that fits you
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Bombilla (Filtered Straw)
View BombillasStraw 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
This is the exact setup we’ve used to help thousands of beginners make their first real mate at home. After trying and reviewing close to a hundred yerba mate brands, we honed in on the best one for beginners to be featured in our starter 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 the real traditional experience.
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Why did you choose these specific items for the starter kit?
Out of all the yerbas we've tried, we picked the smoothest yerba that best represents the traditional flavor, a no-cure 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, or by steeping all the yerba at once. We always suggest starting at the lowest of 140ºF to minimize the bitterness, then work your way up from there.
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Do I need to cure the gourd before using it?
Our starter kit includes a stainless steel gourd, which doesn’t require curing and is easy to clean. Only natural calabash and wooden gourds need curing.
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How do I clean the bombilla and gourd?
After each mate, 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?
Most people experience a calmer, cleaner energy with yerba mate. Although it naturally contains caffeine, it also contains theophylline, theobromine, and antioxidants, which all play a role in the effect it provides.
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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.
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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.
