Mate: how to get started
At Mate Chamamé, we believe that mate is more than just a beverage. It is a ritual, a moment for oneself or to be shared, a habit that develops over time and encourages slowing down. In South America, mate has been part of everyday life for generations. Today, it is increasingly appealing to people in Europe, especially those looking for a natural alternative to coffee, as well as a different way to consume and take time.
A traditional beverage made from yerba mate leaves infused in a mate gourd, mate has a unique identity. Its flavor, preparation method, and the objects that accompany it make it a complete experience, far removed from a simple cup consumed in haste.
Thanks to its natural properties and the way it is consumed, mate stands out as an ideal daily companion. It provides a progressive and long-lasting energy, appreciated both during moments of concentration and physical activity. According to many enthusiasts, once mate becomes part of one’s routine, it quickly turns into a companion that is hard to give up.
If you are discovering mate or wish to better understand how it is enjoyed, this guide is for you. You will find the essential basics to get started: understanding what mate is, the necessary equipment, the first steps of preparation, and the key advice to fully enjoy your first tastings. The goal is simple: to help you approach mate calmly, with the right gestures and the right equipment, and make it a lasting pleasure.
What is mate?
Mate is a traditional beverage from South America, prepared from the leaves of yerba mate, yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis), a plant native to the region that today includes Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. Used for centuries by the Guaraní indigenous peoples, yerba mate was consumed long before the arrival of Europeans, who later contributed to its development and spread across the continent, particularly for its stimulating properties and its central role in daily life.
Over time, mate has become much more than a simple infusion. It has established itself as an identity-defining beverage, deeply rooted in South American culture. Around its consumption, an entire craft tradition has developed, reflecting know-how passed down from generation to generation. Prepared in a mate gourd and enjoyed with a bombilla, mate is drunk slowly, often shared, following a ritual that highlights the importance of social connection and the present moment.
Drinking mate also means adopting a particular way of consuming. Unlike traditional hot beverages, it is prepared at a moderate temperature and reinfused several times, allowing for a gradual tasting experience. This way of consuming mate, passed down through generations, makes it a symbol of conviviality, transmission, and cultural continuity.
What do you need to get started with mate?
To get started with mate, only a few elements are needed. Contrary to what one might think, it is not a complex ritual, but a simple preparation based on the right equipment and a few essential guidelines. The quality of the objects used nevertheless plays an important role in the experience, both in terms of taste and everyday enjoyment.
Traditionally, four elements are enough to prepare mate: a mate gourd, a bombilla, yerba mate, and hot water — or cold, in the case of tereré. Each of these elements plays an important role and deserves to be chosen with care in order to fully enjoy the first tastings.
The mate gourd
The mate gourd is the traditional vessel in which mate is prepared and enjoyed. Made from a dried fruit, it has been used for centuries for its natural qualities and its ability to evolve over time. Each mate gourd stands out through its shape and thickness, making it a living object that transforms through use.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the mate gourd plays an essential role in the flavor of mate. It gradually absorbs the aromas of the yerba mate, enriching the infusions over time. This relationship between the object and the beverage explains the particular attachment that many enthusiasts develop with their mate gourd.
Today, there are different shapes and finishes of mate gourds, adapted to each person’s habits and preferences. Some are covered in leather and reinforced with a metal rim, while others are polished and paired with a leather stand. For beginners, the essential thing is to choose a mate gourd of good quality, well balanced, and suited to the way one enjoys mate.
In addition, many alternatives to the traditional mate gourd are available today, such as wooden mates, stainless steel mates, or composite materials. Each offers specific advantages in terms of maintenance, durability, or practicality. The choice will above all depend on your habits, preferences, and sensitivity to the ritual.
Mate Chamamé tip
For a first mate, choose a mate gourd that is sufficiently wide. This will make it easier to prepare the montañita and will make the first tastings more enjoyable. As for the material, the choice is personal, but we believe that enjoying a hot mate in a traditional mate gourd remains an authentic and unmatched experience.
The bombilla
The bombilla is the filtering straw used to drink mate. It allows the infusion to be sipped while retaining the yerba mate leaves, preventing them from reaching the mouth. Inseparable from the mate gourd, it plays an essential role in the comfort and smoothness of the tasting experience.
Today, the bombilla is available in different materials, such as stainless steel or alpaca. Its length, the shape of its filter, and the fineness of its perforation directly influence the flow of the liquid and the quality of the infusion. A bombilla well chosen, allows you to enjoy a smooth mate, without obstruction, from start to finish.
There is also what is known as a bombillón. The difference compared to a classic bombilla lies mainly in its diameter: the bombillón allows a greater flow of liquid. It is generally appreciated when used with a wide mate gourd, such as imperial-style models, and with a coarser-cut yerba.
Mate Chamamé tip
To get started, choose a bombilla suited to the size of your mate gourd. The choice of material will then depend on your preferences: alpaca is appreciated for its prestigious appearance, while stainless steel is a more accessible and easy-to-maintain option. Feel free to contact us to make sure your bombilla is well suited to your mate.
Yerba mate
Yerba mate is the central element of mate. It consists of the dried and finely cut leaves of the plant Ilex paraguariensis, used to prepare the infusion. Depending on their origin, drying method, and cut, yerbas offer very different flavor profiles, ranging from mild and vegetal notes to more intense and bitter flavors.
Not all yerbas are the same. Some contain a higher proportion of leaves, others a greater amount of stems, and some also include fine powder. These differences influence not only the flavor, but also the intensity of mate and the way it is enjoyed. There are also blended yerbas, to which different plants or aromas are added in order to vary the experience.
In South America, it is common to enrich yerba mate with plants or natural ingredients, such as anise, aromatic herbs, or even coconut flakes. Some people also add a small amount of sugar during preparation to soften the bitterness and adapt mate to their personal preferences.
Mate Chamamé tip
For a first discovery, choose a traditional and well-balanced yerba mate. It will allow you to experience the flavor of mate gently and better understand your preferences before exploring more intense or flavored varieties.
Water and the thermos
Water plays an essential role in the preparation of mate, as it directly influences the flavor and balance of the infusion. Poorly suited water can accentuate bitterness, even when using quality yerba and good equipment.
Contrary to a common belief, mate is not prepared with boiling water. A temperature between 70 and 80 °C allows a gradual infusion and respects the yerba mate leaves. There is also a cold version of mate, called tereré, highly appreciated during periods of intense heat.
To maintain the water temperature throughout the tasting, it is customary to use a thermos. This accessory makes the mate ritual easier, whether enjoyed hot or cold, and naturally accompanies a complete session.
Mate Chamamé tip
Water that is too hot is one of the most common mistakes when starting out. It is better to use water that is slightly cooler than boiling.
How to prepare your first mate
Preparing your first mate is a simple and accessible step. It is not about mastering a complex technique, but rather about understanding a few basic gestures in order to fully enjoy the tasting experience. There is no single right way to prepare mate: each matero adapts the ritual according to their tastes, habits, and preferences.
Simple steps
Once the curing step is complete, if you have just acquired a traditional mate gourd, pour the yerba mate into the gourd until it is about two-thirds full. Then gently tilt the gourd to gather the yerba on one side, creating an open space for the water.
Next, moisten the yerba with a small amount of room-temperature water, then let the mate gourd rest in a tilted position for a few minutes. This step helps prepare the yerba gently and reduces excess powder during the first infusions.
Then insert the bombilla into the open space, keeping it against the side of the mate gourd. Gently pour the hot water, ideally between 70 and 80 °C, into the open space, making sure the water does not overflow near the rim. You can then begin to enjoy your mate using the bombilla.
Mate can be reinfused several times, allowing for a gradual and extended tasting experience.
Best practice
Mate is drunk slowly, in small sips. It is recommended to finish the water in the gourd before adding more.
Once the bombilla is in place, avoid moving it in order to preserve the structure of the yerba and ensure optimal filtration. Take your time between each infusion and adjust the amount of water according to your preferences.
With practice, everyone develops their own way of preparing and drinking mate. What matters most is listening to your own tastes and rhythm.
Mate Chamamé tip
Take your time. Mate is enjoyed slowly, infusion after infusion.
Why drink mate
Drinking mate is more than just drinking a hot beverage. It's about adopting a different way of hydrating yourself, taking a break and integrating a simple ritual into your daily routine. There are many reasons to drink mate, and each person will gradually find something to suit them.
A moment to yourself or to share
Mate can be enjoyed in moments of solitude as well as moments of conviviality. It can be enjoyed calmly, while working, reading or concentrating, but it can also be shared in a ritual deeply rooted in South American culture. This social and human dimension is an integral part of the mate experience.
The virtues traditionally associated with mate
Consumed for centuries in South America, mate is traditionally appreciated for its natural properties. It contains not only caffeine, but also vitamins and minerals, making it a stimulating drink that can be consumed gradually.
Unlike some drinks that are consumed quickly, mate is drunk slowly, infusion after infusion. This way of consuming it allows for a gentler stimulation spread out over time, often described as more balanced. This is one of the reasons why mate is frequently associated with moments of concentration, intellectual work or moderate physical activity.
Mate is also renowned for its rich antioxidant content, naturally present in yerba mate leaves. These compounds are part of the reason why mate is part of many people's daily routine, as a natural alternative to other stimulating drinks.
A ritual that invites you to slow down
Beyond its virtues, mate sets a rhythm. The preparation, brewing and tasting create a deliberate break in the day. This simple ritual invites you to slow down, to pay more attention to the present moment and to transform a habit into a chosen moment.
Why choose quality equipment
The material used for mate is more than just a container. It has a direct influence on the way mate is prepared, drunk and becomes part of everyday life. Choosing quality equipment means paying attention to the whole experience, not just the drink itself.
The pleasure of a beautiful object, designed with use in mind
Objects play a central role in the maté ritual. Their shape, balance and grip have a direct influence on the comfort with which they are prepared and enjoyed. Quality equipment makes for a more pleasant, intuitive and long-lasting experience, which can be felt from the very first time you use it.
Beyond the functional aspect, the pleasure also comes from the aesthetics. The curve of a calabash, the texture of the leather, the patina of a virola or the line of a bombilla are all part of the experience. Using beautiful objects makes the ritual more pleasurable and transforms an everyday gesture into a rewarding moment.
Over time, these objects evolve. They become marked, patinated and impregnated by use, reinforcing the bond we develop with them. These are pieces that we choose as much for their usefulness as for the pleasure they bring us on a daily basis.
Craftsmanship at the heart of mate
Maté is intimately linked to craftsmanship. For generations, calabashes, bombillas and accessories have been handmade by craftsmen who perpetuate traditional skills. Each piece is the fruit of patient work, in which natural materials are carefully selected, shaped and assembled.
Unlike standardised objects, a handmade calabash has variations in shape, texture and character. These differences are not defects, but marks of authenticity that make each piece unique. Over time, these objects evolve and become an integral part of their owner's ritual.
Choosing handcrafted materials also means choosing a more direct link with the maté culture. It means valuing manual work, respecting a heritage and giving meaning to the objects that accompany the ritual on a daily basis.
Better longevity
Quality equipment is built to last. A well-prepared and maintained calabash evolves over time and gradually becomes imbued with the aromas of yerba mate. An appropriate bombilla and a reliable thermos will remain comfortable to use over the long term.
Beyond their material durability, these objects form part of a lasting relationship with their user. They accompany the ritual day after day, season after season, and become real everyday companions.
Getting started with mate, simply
To discover mate is to enter a world that is both simple and rich, where every gesture counts without ever being restrictive. Whether drunk alone or shared, hot or cold, mate adapts naturally to the rhythms and habits of each individual.
By understanding the basics, taking the time to master the ritual and choosing the right equipment, mate gradually becomes an everyday companion. Tasting after tasting, you'll refine your skills, learn to appreciate different tastes and experience lasting pleasure.
The most important thing is to take your time, experiment and make the ritual your own. Mate is best discovered over time, at your own pace.