Curing and Caring for your Yerba Mate Gourd:
Yerba mate, an increasingly popular South American tea, is traditionally drunk from a natural gourd that has been dried and decorated. Using a traditional mate gourd adds a sense of history and some flavor to the experience of drinking yerba mate and requires just a bit more care than a coffee mug.
Mate Gourds, being a natural product, require curing prior to your first use. Curing will seal the pores of the gourd and remove any loose skin from the walls.
Curing Your Mate Gourd:
1. Use your Mate Spoon (bombilla) or other spoon to scrape the inside of your gourd to remove any loose dry skin.
2. Add enough dry yerba mate to fill your gourd half way to the top.
3. Fill the gourd to the top with boiling water
4. Wait a few minutes for the water to be absorbed by the mate leaves and the gourd itself. Add more boiling water to top off your gourd once more.
5. Allow your gourd to sit and soak for 12 to 24 hours.
6. After soaking, empty the gourd and rinse it out with hot water.
7. Scrape the inside of the gourd with your bombilla to remove any soft loose skin.
8. Repeat steps 2 through 7.
9. Place the gourd upside down on a dish rack or cooling rack (the kind used for cooling baked goods), to allow for air flow, and let it dry completely. You can place it in a warm sunny area to speed drying.
10. Once your mate gourd is completely dry store it right side up in a warm, dry, and well ventilated area. A sunny window is a great place to store your mate gourd.
Caring For Your Mate Gourd:
After your gourd is cured and is being used, proper cleaning and storage is necessary to keep your it in good condition. A gourd that is not properly cared for (e.g. stored while still soggy or stored in a damp location) could develop cracks or mold. With use, the inside of your gourd will become stained green. This is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.
The simple steps outlined below, if followed after each use, will ensure that your mate gourd remains safe and useful for years to come.
Care After each use of your Yerba Mate Gourd:
1. Remove the yerba mate from the gourd.
2. Rinse your gourd with hot tap water.
3. Use a towel to dry your gourd inside and out.
4. Place the gourd upside down on a dish rack or cooling rack, to allow for air flow, and let it dry completely. You can place it in a warm sunny area to speed drying.
5. Once your mate gourd is completely dry store it right side up in a warm, dry, and well ventilated area. A sunny window is a great place to store your mate gourd.
Always inspect your gourd before each use to make sure there are no cracks or mold in it. With proper care and storage, your mate gourd can last a lifetime.
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