How to Prepare Mate: A Step-by-Step Guide
To prepare mate, fill a cup about two thirds with yerba mate, tilt it, add a little cool water, then pour hot water (not boiling) along the wall and drink through a bombilla. Here is the full method.
What you need
A mate cup (gourd, wood or stainless steel), a bombilla, yerba mate, a thermos or kettle with hot water and a few minutes of patience.
Step by step
Follow these steps the first time and you will soon do it without thinking.
- Fill the mate about two thirds full with yerba.
- Cover the opening with your palm, turn the cup upside down and shake gently so the fine dust moves to the top.
- Tilt the mate to about 45 degrees so the yerba piles up on one side and leaves an empty space on the other.
- Pour a small splash of cool water into the empty space and wait a few seconds until the yerba absorbs it.
- Insert the bombilla into the wet side with your thumb over the top and push it down to the bottom. Do not move it afterwards.
- Pour hot water, around 70 to 80 °C (158 to 176 °F), into the same spot next to the bombilla. Never pour it over the top of the yerba.
- Drink the first sip, which is the strongest, and refill the same spot with hot water as you go.
How much yerba and how long does it last
A cup holds about 50 to 100 grams of yerba depending on its size. A well-prepared mate can be refilled many times until the flavor fades. When it tastes weak and watery, it is time to replace the yerba.
Common mistakes
Using boiling water makes mate bitter and can damage a cup. Stirring the bombilla clogs the filter. Pouring water over the whole surface washes out the flavor too soon.
Quick answers
What is the right water temperature for mate?
Between 70 and 80 °C (158 to 176 °F). It should be hot but never boiling.
How many times can I refill a mate?
Many times. A well-prepared cup can be refilled until the yerba loses its flavor, usually when it tastes weak.
Do I need a special cup to drink mate?
A traditional mate cup works best because of its size and shape, but the technique is the same for any material.
Ready to prepare your first mate? Start with a classic imperial mate.
MATEAR Imperial Argentine Mate in Algarrobo Wood with Bombilla