How to Cure a Wooden Mate Gourd
Curing prepares a new wooden mate for its first use. It takes a few minutes of work and one night of waiting.
Why cure a mate?
Curing helps remove loose wood particles and any raw taste from a new cup, and lets the wood settle before you drink from it with yerba and hot water.
What you need
Some yerba mate (used yerba works too), warm water that is not boiling, a spoon and a clean cloth.
Step by step
Follow these steps the first time you use your cup.
- Fill the mate to the top with yerba.
- Add warm water, not boiling, until it covers the yerba.
- Let it rest for several hours or overnight.
- Empty the cup and gently scrape the inside with a spoon to remove loosened residue.
- Rinse with warm water and let it dry completely in open air.
Daily care
After each use, empty the yerba and rinse with warm water. Dry the cup well and never leave wet yerba inside. Avoid the dishwasher and long soaking.
Looking for a cup to cure? Discover the MATEAR imperial mate.