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"BALON" Imperial Criollo Mate - Bronze Rim & Leather Base

"BALON" Imperial Criollo Mate - Bronze Rim & Leather Base

Regular price $90.00 USD
Regular price $90.00 USD Sale price
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Slick, clean, and perfectly constructed, this imperial mate gourd was handmade in Argentina and comes with a separate, fitted leather base. Allowing you to take the calabash on the move, angle it for perfect mountains of mate, and just for a more luxurious feel. These mates are tightly wrapped with a black croc-patterned leather and crowned with an elegant chiseled bronze rim. Ranges from medium to large capacity.

It’s recommended you cure your gourd before use. (The size, shape, and rim design varies from the pictures shown as no two gourds are the same and are all handmade – some are larger, some are smaller.)

Dimensions (approx.) : 4 x 4 in. 

imperial criollo mate gourd with leather base

 

Can I Pick Specific A Design/Size?
Unfortunately, no. Calabashes are 100% natural. Each mate is unique in shape, size, and capacity. In addition, the virola (metal rim) are all handmade and each mate comes with a different design. Making choosing specific designs/sizes, impossible to do.

The best we can do is give a range of a mate's dimensions and capacity. If you prefer a size, you can always feel free to reach out and we'll always do our best to accommodate, but can't guarantee we'll meet your specifications.

How To Cure Mate Gourds
Before your first use, cure your mate gourd (if made of calabash or wood) to remove excess debris and reduce bitter tannins.

  • Fill with hot water (170°F / 77 °C) and steep for 20 minutes.
  • Pat dry with a paper towel.
  • Dry gourd on its side in a well-ventilated spot (a fan works best).

Does My Gourd Have Mold?
After your mate comes in contact with yerba, whether from curing or regular use, it's common for the calabash to have green/grey spots. This can easily be mistaken for mold, but is often the staining of the yerba. A fully stained calabash is traditionally seen as a sign of a well-cured gourd.

Mold, on the other hand, will be easy to spot as it will appear on the surface of the walls as fuzzy/hair-like, white/green spots, and can be scratched off. Whereas staining cannot be removed.

How To Prevent Mold
Mold growth is an unfortunate reality when it comes to natural gourds, and is caused by how it's dried after being used (not an issue with the gourd itself).

For the best prevention, after patting your gourd dry with a paper towel, rest it on its side in a dry, well-ventilated room (directly by a fan for best results).

How To Clean Mate Gourds
Natural gourds (calabash/wood) should be cleaned immediately after use with only warm water. Rinse out all the yerba and pat dry. Then, as mentioned, rest in a dry, well-ventilated area. Do not use soap or other cleaning products as this can be absorbed and affect the taste of your mate.

  • Free US shipping on orders $60+ (2-5 business days)
  • Worldwide shipping to 50+ countries (more info)
  • Returns allowed within 30 days
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