How to Make a Traditional Argentinean Mate

Mate

Traditional Argentinean Mate is drunk out of a gourd, also called a mate.

The leaves of the plant are chopped, cut and ground into particles called Yerba. Then the yerba is added to the mate and the mouth is shaken against the open palm, which catches the powdery residue.

Then hot (not boiling) water is added to the mate, and the Yerba mixed in. After steeping for a short while, the straw or bombilla is used to drink short sips out of the mixture.

The pourer (cebador) of the mate, ensures that the drink is not too hot or cold, and has the correct mixture of sugar or whatever else the drinkers would like.

Rules:

While the rules vary by region and even by drinker, here are the ones taught to me:

1. In Argentina, sharing of the Mate is traditional – take a short sip and pass to your friends and family.
2. If you’re ever sharing Mate, finish your cup and return it to the pourer, who will refill and pass along to the next person.
3. If you say “thank you” (gracias), it infers that you’re finished drinking.

When your mate starts to soak through the yerba infusion on the top, it’s time to move the bombilla.
Just slightly moving it, perhaps just a few millimeters to the right or left, pour more sugar (if wanted), then water into the open space.

If it tastes like water even after doing the above, you can change the mixture. You can empty out a small amount from the top of the infusion and add more yerba mate, being careful to pour it carefully to the side opposite the bombilla. You won’t be able to shake it against your open palm to remove the powder, but you can continue to do this for quite a while to keep drinking. Alternately, empty out the gourd completely and refill as in the beginning of this guide.

While there are currently very few places to buy all you need to make an authentic mate, there are a few. Unfortunately, there are few dealers in the United States who carry everything, and most of those are online. The best dealer I’ve found is Guayaki, which is a fair trade company stationed in Sebastopol, CA. 
They purchase Yerba Mate from local farmers in South America, where the growth of this plant provides more income per acre than cattle or agricultural products such as corn, soy or wheat. The company also sells authentic gourds and bombillas made by native South American peoples. Pick up a gourd, bombilla and some Yerba and have a great drink without the negative effects of coffee. Remember that the Yerba is to be shared. Introduce your friends and family to this drink that’s sure to entrance any coffee drinker.

Many thanks to my lovely girlfriend, Virginia, to introducing me to this wonderful drink and many other things from her native Argentina.