How Many Times Can You Refill a Mate?
A good mate can be refilled many times, often a dozen or more, until the yerba loses its flavor and the water comes out pale. There is no exact number.
How to tell it is finished
When the taste is flat, the yerba floats on the water and the color is light, the mate is spent, which Argentines call lavado.
Get more refills
Pour water in the same spot each time and keep the yerba piled on one side. Using water that is not boiling also makes the yerba last longer.
Refresh it
Some people add a little fresh yerba on the high side of the mate to revive it, instead of starting from scratch.
Start over
When it is truly flat, empty the mate, rinse it and prepare a new one.
Quick answers
What is a lavado?
It is a mate whose yerba has lost its flavor and tastes like plain water.
Does the mate size change the number of refills?
Yes. A larger mate holds more yerba and usually gives more refills.
A larger torpedo mate holds more yerba for long sessions.
MATEAR Torpedo Mate Kit, Stainless Steel Cup Wrapped in Handmade Leather, with Bombilla