Thés & Traditions
French tea house since 2016
Mate is a beverage originating from South America. It has become so successful that it is now almost as consumed as tea or coffee. Organic mate has recently gained popularity thanks to footballer Antoine Griezmann, who made it his magic potion. This unique drink is concentrated in caffeine, antioxidants, and iron. However, it contains no calories. We consume it more and more as its multiple health benefits have been scientifically proven. There's no doubt anymore, mate is good for us, and its medicinal properties are recognized. Indeed, as an infusion, it actively helps fight mental fatigue, physical fatigue, nervousness, and high blood pressure.
It's also beneficial for better digestion and optimal protection of your immune defenses. Finally, mate is often used as part of a diet with its slimming aspect and the resulting feeling of satiety and appetite suppression. There are several possible preparations for consuming mate, but if you want to follow the recommendations of traditional Argentine mate, it is essential to get the necessary tools called gourd and bombilla.
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The gourd and bombilla are accessories used to prepare traditional mate. Indeed, these two elements are essential to follow tradition to the letter. The Argentine mate gourd refers to the traditional container for mate, a kind of cup in which mate leaves and hot water are poured. The bombilla is the metal straw used inside the gourd to easily drink the mate. The mate bombilla is equipped with a filter to allow the infusion of the drink and prevent you from sucking up mate leaves while drinking.
Preparing mate is within everyone's reach. It's just important to use the right tools and in the proper way. For preparing traditional yerba mate, you must fill the gourd ¾ full with mate leaves. Shake the gourd so that the powder remains on your hand. Then, tilt the container about 45 degrees to gently pour warm to hot water to soak the bottom of your container. Let it steep for a few moments and place your bombilla against the edge of the gourd. You can then pour water again, but this time over half of the mate. The preparation is complete, it's time to taste it. You can add hot water throughout the day to continue drinking the mate and enjoy its benefits for as long as possible.
There isn't just one type of mate gourd. Indeed, depending on where you buy this accessory and your budget, there are different types of gourds. For example, you can opt for a handcrafted and natural wooden mate gourd. Some versions of Argentine mate gourd may have a ceramic rim. You can also find ceramic mate gourd, leather mate gourd, or handmade mate gourd models. All these models are simple gourds, but there are also gourds with stands. These are large mate gourds with a greater capacity. They are particularly used for drinking mate with others in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Mate gourd maintenance is crucial to safely drink your beverage in this container. Start by cleaning the mate gourd before use. To do this, fill it with mate and pour hot water inside. Then let it rest until the next day. After that, scrape the inner walls of the mate gourd to effectively remove wood residues. Carefully repeat this operation then rinse and let the gourd dry in the sun. You can then use it to drink mate. In daily use, remember not to leave yerba mate in the gourd for too long. Which mate gourd to choose? If you want easier maintenance, opt for glass or ceramic models. As for the bombilla, clean it after each use. About once a month, perform a more thorough cleaning by soaking it in boiling water for about 30 minutes before washing it thoroughly with a brush.
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