Curing a mate gourd is an essential step before drinking your first mate. Made from a natural gourd, the mate is a living material that requires specific preparation to remove natural bitterness, clean the interior, and improve its impermeability.
This gesture, passed down through generations in South America, is an integral part of the mate ritual. Properly curing your mate gourd not only improves the flavor of the infusion, but also helps extend the life of your mate.
In this step-by-step guide, you will learn how to properly cure a mate gourd in a simple and effective way. Here, we present a classic and traditional method that is widely used. Other techniques exist and will be covered in dedicated articles.
Gently rinse the inside of the mate gourd with hot water, between 60 °C and 80 °C. Make sure not to fill the water up to the rim in order to avoid damaging the outer leather. Then carefully empty the water without wetting the leather.
Fill the mate gourd with yerba mate, used or new if it is your first mate. The gourd will absorb the tannins from the yerba, which helps improve its impermeability. The yerba also transfers its flavors to the gourd, gradually giving it a unique taste.
Leave at least 1 cm of space between the yerba and the rim of the mate gourd. This space is important to prevent water from overflowing and to preserve your mate.
Gently pour water at mate temperature, between 70 °C and 80 °C, so that the yerba becomes moist. The goal is not to fill the gourd, but simply to properly moisten the yerba. Then let the mate gourd rest in a place away from heat and direct light.
If you are worried about adding too much water, pour it in two stages. After the first pour, wait a few minutes. If the yerba seems too dry, add a little more water.
After 12 to 24 hours, remove all the yerba using a spoon. Then gently scrape the inside of the mate gourd to remove the soft gourd residue. Small flakes may come off, which is completely normal. This step helps clean and smooth the interior. Finally, wipe the inside with a cloth or paper towel to remove as much moisture as possible.
Let the mate gourd air-dry, ideally in the sun. Do not place it upside down; tilt it slightly or keep it upright to allow air to circulate. If you do not have sunlight, use paper towels and replace them during the drying process. Wait until the gourd is completely dry before using it again.
This process can take up to 48 hours if there is no sunlight, so be patient. You can also use a hair dryer for a few minutes on low heat to speed up the drying.
Repeat the steps several times, usually 2 to 3 times. Each mate gourd is different, and some require a bit more time before being fully ready. However, you can start drinking mate before the process is completely finished. The taste may be slightly more bitter at first, but it will gradually mellow with use. The gourd will continue to cure naturally until it becomes smooth and durable.
If you notice dark spots appearing inside, this is completely normal. The mate gourd absorbs the tannins from the yerba, and its color changes over time. This is a sign that it is preparing to hold your favorite yerba for the long term.
After a bit of patience, you can now use your mate gourd. Keep in mind that the curing process continues naturally with regular use.
Enjoy your mate! 🧉
