How to Cure a Wooden Mate Gourd
Learn how to cure a wooden mate cup before first use, how to clean it and how to keep it in good shape for years.
Mate Guides
Everything you need to get started with mate and to keep your cup in good shape for years.
How to Choose a Mate Gourd
A simple buying guide to Argentine mate cups: materials, bombilla, size and what to look for when buying a mate as a gift.
Christmas Gifts for Mate Lovers
Christmas gift ideas for people who drink mate: handcrafted mate cups, complete sets and accessories that make a thoughtful present.
Stocking Stuffers for Mate Drinkers
Small gift ideas for mate lovers: bombillas, yerba containers and accessories that fit in a stocking or a small gift bag.
Secret Santa Gift Ideas: Give a Mate
Looking for an original Secret Santa or office gift? A mate set is unusual, personal and useful. Here is how to choose it.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday: How to Shop for a Mate
How to shop for a mate on Black Friday and Cyber Monday: what to check, which mate to choose and how to avoid cheap copies.
Father's Day Gifts: A Mate for Dad
Father's Day gift ideas for dads who love mate: handcrafted cups, torpedo and camionero mates, and complete sets.
Mother's Day Gifts: A Mate for Mom
Mother's Day gift ideas for moms who love mate: elegant cups, small kits and sets with a yerba container.
Valentine's Day Gifts: A Mate to Share
Valentine's Day gift ideas for couples who share mate: a mate set to enjoy together and make a new ritual.
Birthday Gift Ideas for Mate Lovers
Birthday gift ideas for friends and family who love Argentine mate: handcrafted cups, gift sets and accessories.
Wedding and Groomsmen Gift Ideas
Gift ideas for weddings, groomsmen and the happy couple: handcrafted mates that become keepsakes of the day.
Graduation Gift Ideas: A Mate for the Graduate
Graduation gift ideas: a durable mate that goes with the graduate to study, travel and the first job.
Corporate and Client Gifts: A Mate Set
Why a handcrafted mate is a distinctive corporate gift for clients, teams and partners, and how to choose it.
New Year: Start a Mate Ritual
Start the year with a mate ritual: ideas for a new routine and gifts for friends who want to start it with you.
Día del Amigo: A Mate for an Argentine Friend
Argentine Friend's Day (Día del Amigo) is July 20. Why a mate is the perfect gift for an Argentine friend, wherever they live.
Does Yerba Mate Have Caffeine?
Yes, yerba mate contains caffeine. Learn how it compares with coffee, what changes the strength and how to adjust it to your taste.
Do You Need to Cure a Stainless Steel Mate?
Stainless steel mates do not need curing like calabash or wood. Here is what to do before the first use and how to keep it clean.
How to Make Tereré (Cold Mate)
Tereré is yerba mate prepared with cold water or juice. Learn the basic method, flavor ideas and what you need to prepare it.
How to Use a Bombilla and How Much Yerba to Add
A simple guide to using a bombilla: how much yerba to put in your mate, where to place the straw and how to pour the water.
How to Pronounce Mate, Yerba and Bombilla
A quick pronunciation guide for mate, yerba mate and bombilla, the way they are said in Argentina.
What Does Yerba Mate Taste Like?
What to expect from your first mate: the flavor, why it can be bitter and how to make it milder or sweeter.
Why Does My Mate Taste Bitter?
Bitter mate usually comes from water that is too hot, too much powder or an uncured mate. Here is how to fix each cause.
Why Does My Bombilla Clog?
A clogged bombilla is usually caused by fine powder in the yerba or a dirty filter. Here is how to prevent and fix it.
How Many Times Can You Refill a Mate?
How long a mate of yerba lasts, how to tell it is spent and how to get more refills out of it.
How to Choose a Bombilla
Spring, perforated or flat: how to choose a bombilla that does not clog, is easy to clean and fits your mate.
How to Remove Smell from a Mate Cup
A musty smell in a wooden or calabash mate usually means trapped moisture. Here is how to clean it and keep it fresh.
Can You Put a Mate Cup in the Dishwasher?
Whether a mate cup can go in the dishwasher depends on the material. Here is how to wash wood, calabash, steel and leather.
What Thermos Do You Need for Mate?
A thermos keeps water hot for a whole mate session. Here is what to look for in capacity, spout and insulation.
Mate vs. Mate Cocido: What Is the Difference?
Mate and mate cocido use the same herb but are prepared differently. Here is how they differ and when to choose each.
How Long Does a Mate Gourd Last?
With the right care, a mate can last for years. Here is what affects its lifespan and when it is time to replace it.
How to Prepare Mate: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to prepare Argentine mate with a gourd and bombilla: how much yerba, the right water temperature and the technique Argentines use.
Wood vs. Calabash vs. Stainless Steel Mate: Which Is Best?
Compare mate cups by material: wood, calabash (gourd) and stainless steel with leather. Durability, care, taste and who each one is best for.
How to Cure a Calabash Mate Gourd
Step-by-step method to cure a calabash mate gourd before first use, plus how to clean it and avoid mold so it lasts for years.
How to Care for a Stainless Steel and Leather Mate
Care guide for stainless steel mates with leather covering: no curing needed, how to clean the inside, protect the leather and avoid damage.
How to Clean a Bombilla
How to clean a stainless steel bombilla: daily rinse, deep cleaning with vinegar and baking soda, and how to fix a clogged filter.
What Is Yerba Mate?
What yerba mate is, how it tastes, how Argentines drink it and what you need to start: a simple beginner guide to the traditional infusion.
Best Mate Gifts for Argentines and Mate Lovers
How to choose a mate gift: ideas for Argentines abroad, beginners and mate lovers, with sets, gift boxes and what to include.
Best Mate for Beginners
Which mate should a beginner buy? Easy-care materials, the right size, a good bombilla and a simple starter setup.
Imperial vs. Torpedo vs. Camionero Mate
The main Argentine mate shapes explained: imperial, torpedo, camionero and ranchero, with sizes and who each is best for.
How to Remove Mold from a Mate Cup
How to remove mold from a wooden or calabash mate cup with vinegar, and the simple drying habits that prevent it from coming back.
Best Water Temperature for Mate
The ideal temperature for mate is 70 to 80 °C (158 to 176 °F). Why boiling water ruins the flavor and how to get it right without a thermometer.
How to Store Yerba Mate
How to keep yerba mate fresh: airtight containers, cool dry places, away from light, and why a yerba container is better than the original bag.
Mate Glossary: Words Every Mate Drinker Should Know
A simple glossary of mate terms: bombilla, cebador, cebar, virola, yerba, lavado and more, explained in plain English.