How to cure and clean mate?

Curing a mate, whether made of a gourd or wood, is essential to enjoying its authentic flavor and preventing mold from forming. To cure a mate, fill the mate with Taragüi Yerba Mate, add hot water, and let it steep for 24 hours. Then, scrape the inside walls to remove any residue. For daily cleaning, rinse the mate well, dry it upside down, and be sure to wash the bombilla regularly to keep it in optimal condition.

Just as there is a correct way to prepare and drink mate, it is also important to understand the curing, cleaning, and maintenance process for the container in which it is served to truly enjoy a good mateada. Properly curing a gourd or wooden mate ensures that its pores are well sealed, ensuring that the material's unique flavor doesn't affect the yerba mate infusion and that mold doesn't develop.

The importance of the type of mate

Although today we easily find mates made of glass, ceramic, steel, silicone, and even plastic (materials that are not permeable and do not affect the flavor of the yerba), for traditional hot bitter yerba mate, mates made of organic materials such as calabash or wood are often used, which must be prepared (cured) before use.

Likewise, mates must be cured according to the type of yerba mate being consumed. If it's sweet mate, for example, it should be consumed in a container cured for sweet mate to always retain this flavor; it should never be used for bitter mate. If bitter mate is consumed in a container previously cured for sweet mate, the qualities of the mate change.

Steps to cure a gourd mate

Step 1: Cure the mate

When it comes to a gourd mate, the maturing process is very important. To "cure" the mate, we fill it with yerba mate and add hot water. We let it steep overnight. Then we thoroughly scrape the inside walls of the mate with a spoon to remove the woody stem. This procedure can be repeated several times for maximum effectiveness. Once the stem is completely removed, rinse the mate and let it dry in the sun. It's ready to use.

Step 2: Cleaning the container

After drinking mate, you should discard all the yerba mate and not leave it there for too long. Rinse, drain, and turn the mate upside down to dry. A common mistake is turning it upside down, which favors the growth of mold, according to expert Karla Johan. For those who don't have much time, a glass mate might be much easier to clean every day.

Step 3: Washing the bulb

The bombilla is perhaps the most delicate part, as it's often shared with others. It's recommended to purchase a stainless steel, silver, or nickel-silver bombilla, and keep it clean by immersing it in boiling water, depending on the frequency and use.

How to cure a gourd mate to make it sweet

For sweet mate, it is customary to use a type of gourd called a "pore" or "pear" due to its shape. After washing and disinfecting the container with very hot water, add two tablespoons of sugar to the mate, cover the mouth, and shake it so that the sugar adheres to the inside walls and coats them. Let it dry for a few hours. When it's dry, place two lit coals inside the mate, cover it, and shake it until the embers go out, then repeat the process.

How to cure a wooden mate

A well-seasoned wooden mate will last a long time in good condition and allow you to better enjoy the flavor of the yerba mate. The procedure is very simple, although the curing technique may vary depending on the local culture. A common way to season wooden mates is to coat them thoroughly with butter, oil, or cow fat, so that the mate does not crack or accumulate moisture. Another technique is to thoroughly wash and refill the mate with the used yerba mate from the last cebada (beef season), then constantly moisten it with warm water for 24 hours. This process is repeated two or three days, which is the length of time a mate should be cured.

It is advisable to protect the mate from the moisture to which it is exposed. To waterproof the wooden mate, simply apply a coat of synthetic varnish or colorless shellac that is completely moisture-proof.

What to do if the mate has mold?

Fungus on a mate usually appears as a white layer. To clean a wooden mate with fungus or a gourd mate with fungus, wash it thoroughly with a brush, unscented white soap, and hot water. Afterward, dry it thoroughly and then moisten the inside of the mate with a small amount of ethyl alcohol, rubbing it down the sides, and then carefully light it on fire. This will eliminate any remaining traces of fungus.

The importance of properly cleaning the mate

Mate, in addition to being an excellent companion during various activities, is often shared among a group of friends or even strangers. This can be risky in winter, especially because of the bombilla, when flu and viruses are common. If the mate set hasn't been cleaned properly, harmful agents such as fungi and germs are likely to proliferate. Furthermore, it's very difficult to experience the true flavor of a good mate if it's not in good condition: so it's best to take the time to season it and wash it at the right time.

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