A preparation at the heart of tradition with mate accessories

To prepare maté the artisanal way, you will need a gourd. This product is the fruit of a climbing plant called the calabash tree. Thanks to its gourd shape, the calabash, once dried and hollowed out, serves as a natural container for tasting yerba maté. It is one of the essentials for embarking on the discovery of this drink from Argentina.
There are different gourd models, beyond the traditional gourd shape. They can be made from materials such as wood, glass, silicone or ceramic. When tasting organic yerba maté, the flavour will vary depending on the material used to make the cup. Furthermore, the cleaning process will differ depending on the container. Your choice will therefore come down to your expectations and the price you are willing to pay.
For a unique and traditional tasting experience, the natural maté pot is perfect. Indeed, if you are a tea enthusiast, you will love its flavour — as if you were in South America. However, if you are new to this, you may prefer ceramic or glass accessories to fully appreciate this infusion.

How to choose your bombilla?

For a complete tasting experience, the gourd cup is not enough. The bombilla is one of the maté accessories you will find indispensable. Thanks to this straw, you will not need to remove the steeped tea leaves with a teaspoon. Indeed, it serves two important functions:

• The first: it will allow you to drink the infusion.
• The second: it will act as a filter.

This pipette can be made from various materials such as alpaca, wood, stainless steel and even aluminium. This maté straw also comes in different shapes. Before spending money on a bombilla, you should take into account its size, the diameter of its holes, its heat resistance, its quality, and so on. You should also check its compatibility with your gourd, to fully enjoy the experience.
If you are a beginner in yerba maté tasting, you probably won't want to invest in expensive products at first. That is why we recommend using a stainless steel bombilla. This type of product is often available at an affordable price. Do you prefer to do it the Argentine way? In that case, your choice will fall on the traditional alpaca straw.

How to clean your maté accessories?

Maintaining and cleaning your utensils are steps not to be overlooked. Indeed, this is part of the preparation process, especially if you have a bombilla and a traditional maté gourd.
Let us discover the four steps to wash your artisanal gourd:

• Step 1: cure your cup before first use. Since it is a dried gourd, you need to scrape it thoroughly. This will have a positive impact on its durability and also on the flavour of the yerba maté.
• Step 2: discard the tea leaves after drinking your infusion. Water increases the density of the maté and this pressure can cause cracks to appear.
• Step 3: wash your pot after each use. To do so, simply rinse with hot water (after having first removed the tea leaves).
• Step 4: dry the pot thoroughly. To prevent mould, it must be completely dry. Let it dry in the sun, and if you cannot, place it slightly on an angle.

The maintenance of your bombilla should also be carried out regularly. Some products can be opened, which greatly facilitates cleaning. To clean your maté straw properly, you will need to use a small special brush. Slide it into the bombilla and scrub all the holes thoroughly.

To experience a wealth of unique and indescribable flavours, let yourself be tempted by favourites such as organic yerba maté. To do so, it is essential to have the right accessories, such as a gourd pot, a bombilla, and even a thermos (to help with steeping). In order not to spoil the taste and to keep your accessories in good condition for longer, it is vital to clean them properly (regardless of the material chosen). You can then continue your flavour journey into the heart of Latin America for even longer.

You might also enjoy these other pages:

• The tea spoon
• The teapot
• Tea filters
• Matcha accessories