Beginner's Guide: Mistakes to Avoid with Mate

Have you just purchased your first calabash and yerba mate? Congratulations on your entry into this fascinating world! As with any new endeavor, the first steps with mate can be fraught with pitfalls that risk ruining your experience. In this article, we'll explore the most common mistakes beginners make and how to avoid them to fully enjoy this ancient beverage.

1. The fatal mistake: using boiling water

   The problem: Many new mate drinkers, accustomed to making tea or coffee, instinctively pour boiling water over their yerba mate. The result? A bitter, burnt, and unpleasant mate.

✅ Solution: The ideal temperature is between 70°C and 80°C. To reach this temperature, turn off your kettle as soon as the first small bubbles appear on the surface of the water. As Valeria Trapaga, a mate sommelier, explains, once water is brought to a boil, it loses all of its oxygenation, which significantly alters the taste of your infusion. If you have let your water boil, let it sit for 3-5 minutes before use, although this option is less ideal for preserving the aromatic subtleties of your yerba.

2. Fill the gourd completely with water from the start

   The problem: Completely flooding your yerba mate from the first infusion immediately saturates the leaves and prevents the gradual release of flavors.

✅ Solution: Start by creating a "montaña" (mountain) of yerba gourd on one side of your gourd. Slowly pour water into the hollow formed on the opposite side. Let the water gradually soak into the yerba gourd before adding more water.

3. Not preparing yerba mate properly before brewing

   The problem: Pouring water directly onto the yerba mate without prior preparation results in uneven extraction and a bombilla that quickly clogs.

✅ Solution:

1. Fill your gourd two-thirds full of yerba mate.
2. Cover the opening with your hand.
3. Turn the gourd upside down and shake it gently to bring up the finest particles.
4. Straighten the gourd at an angle to create a yerba gourd slope.
5. Lightly dampen the bottom side with a little warm water.

👉 Watch the video of how to prepare mate

👉 How to Drink and Prepare a Perfect Mate

4. Incorrectly positioning the bombilla

   The problem: A poorly placed bombilla constantly clogs or doesn't properly extract the flavors of the yerba.

✅ Solution: Insert your bombilla from the side where you created the hollow, pushing it all the way to the bottom of the gourd. The filter opening of the bombilla should be in contact with the wall of the gourd, not buried in the middle of the yerba.

5. Neglecting to care for your gourd

   The problem: Many beginners treat their gourd like a regular cup, leaving it wet after use or cleaning it with soap.

✅ Solution: Empty your calabash completely after each use. Remove any yerba mate residue without scraping the sides. Let it air dry, ideally in an inclined position to remove any residual moisture. Never use soap or detergent, as this will soak into the material.

6. Do not clean the gourd

   Common Mistake: Using a gourd without first preparing it.
   The problem: The gourd can impart a bitter taste if not cured properly.

✅ Solution: Fill the gourd with used yerba mate and add warm water. Let it sit for 8 hours. Remove the yerba mate, gently scrape out the inside, rinse, and let it air dry.

Over time, the gourd will gradually become waterproof, making the mate sweeter and more pleasant with each infusion.

👉 How to "cure" your mate gourd

7. Letting the yerba sit too long

   Common Mistake: Letting the same dose of yerba mate too long before using it again.
   The problem: If you pour in the morning and reuse the same yerba in the afternoon, the yerba can ferment, altering the taste of the mate and potentially causing stomach upset.

✅ Solution: Prepare a new dose of yerba mate every few hours to maintain its freshness and flavor. If you want to prolong the infusion, add a little fresh yerba mate after a few mates to prevent flavor loss.

8. Not cleaning the bombilla properly

   Common mistake: Leaving the bombilla dirty after use.
   The problem: Yerba mate residue can build up and alter the taste of mate.

✅ Solution: Disassemble the bombilla (if possible) after each use. Clean it with a fine brush and warm water. Once a month, soak it in warm water with a spoonful of baking soda for 15 to 20 minutes to remove residue and ensure perfect hygiene. Let it dry completely before storing.

9. Drinking mate too quickly

   Common Mistake: Drinking mate quickly like coffee or an energy drink.
   The problem: You're missing out on the ritual and the full experience of mate.

✅ Solution: Take the time to savor each sip. Mate is a social drink, take the time to share it and enjoy the moment.

Personal experience :

When I worked as a pizza maker at E. Leclerc, I had 20-minute breaks. I brought my Matera and two croissants from La Mie Câline. My goal was to finish my entire thermos in 20 minutes before returning to work.

At first, I only drank 0.5 L of mate, but soon other colleagues joined the "matero club." We shared mate during our breaks, and very quickly, we found ourselves running out of water!

Until one day I realized the problem was that I was drinking too fast! Since then, I've learned to slow down—and the heartburn is gone!

Conclusion :

Mate is a ritual, not a race
Enjoy the process, explore different yerbas, and take the time to savor each infusion. Mate is much more than a drink: it's a tradition and a moment of connection with yourself and others.