CERAMIC MATE CUP + STEEL PICO DE LORO "BOMBILLA" STRAW + GIFTS!
YERBA MATE COMPLETE SET - HANDMADE FROM ARGENTINA
Premium
ceramic gourd with silicone base. It comes with a steel straw "bombilla"
(easy to clean) + bamboo bombilla + gift.
Products are 100% artisanal. HOW TO DRINK "MATE"? Please, scroll down at the bottom of this page!
YERBA MATE PROPERTIES: 1) Rich in Antioxidants 2) Enhances Your Ability to Focus 3) Enhances Physical Endurance 4) Aids Digestion 5) Helps You Control Your Weight 6) Support Cardiovascular Health
HOW TO "CURE" THE MATE? It's easy! After your purchase, I'll send a message to you with the detailed explanation, step by step instructions!
Español: Mate de madera, hecho artesanalmente. Se entrega con una bombilla común + bombilla de bambú + regalo!
Shipping costs:
$ 13.- CERTIFIED MAIL with tracking number 8-10 working days. (America Continent) -
$ 16.- CERTIFIED MAIL with tracking number 11-16 working days. (Rest of the World)
Thanks for
watching.
WHAT IS MATE?
Mate is the name of the vessel containing the
mixture of yerba leaves and hot water. The used container was originally
a gourd (also known as pumpkin or calabash), nowadays there are mates
made of wood, bamboo, cow horns, metal and other materials.
Mate
in Argentina is regarded as a symbol of friendship, an excuse to meet, a
form of communication, and a companion while someone studies, works or
travelling. Each perfect day begins with a delicious mate!
WHAT IS THE BOMBILLA (STRAW)?
The
bombilla was created from the need to filter and avoid the leaves of
yerba while drinking mate. The first bombillas were made of cane
(bamboo), the indigenous devised a kind of filter in these cane
bombillas called kokos, wich means a kind of fabric made from plant
fibers that helped to retain the little leaves of yerba and pass only
water. Time later the bombilla was perfected, adding small holes on the
bottom.
Over the years, the metal became the evolution of the
bombilla. Have been created many models of bombillas from different
metals such as silver, gold, German silver (known as "alpaca"),
stainless steel, bronze and nickel.
The bombilla is the
centerpiece of the mate, which serves to filter the yerba, it helps
prevent burning while sipping mate, and also it adds a touch of beauty
to the mate set.
HOW MATE IS PREPARED?
3/4 parts of the
mate cup must be filled with regular yerba mate, you should cover the
opening with your palm to place it prone, and shake it well (so that
dust or fine particles of yerba do not cover the bombilla). Place the
mate cup faceup again, but inclined, and add some natural water in the
resulting empty space of that inclination. Now it's time to put the
bombilla inside the mate cup (in the same empty space), then, you can
place the mate cup normally to pour the hot water.
HOW WATER IS POURED?
First
you have to consider something very important: the water temperature.
For preparing mate in a right way, it should be at 160°-180°F /
75°-80°C, without allowing it to boil. Boiled water burns the yerba, and
it no longer serves. The first pouring of water must be slow, this
moistens the yerba in a better way. Water always should be poured on one
place of the mate cup, usually where the bombilla is placed, and until
it reaches almost to the edge of the mate cup.
MATE, BITTER OR SWEET?
Each
person is different. There are "brave" men who prefer the bitter mate,
without any pinch of sugar, because they enjoy the taste of yerba in all
its glory. Others do not want to be brave at all, and added a little of
sugar every 1 or 2 water refills. You can also add a teaspoon of honey
(just one time) at the first pouring of water, then, water is mixed with
the honey, and the yerba becomes a little sweet taste.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SERVER
The
mate has an art, that is to say, the art of the server (from now on
"the cebador"). The cebador usually has its own way of preparing mate,
giving a particular taste, unique.
If mate is drunk in groups of 2
or more people, the cebador should brew the mate, and drink the first
one, because it is the strongest. After, the cebador must refill it with
hot water, and pass it to the next person around him/her. The mate is
returned to the cebador to be refilled with hot water when the person
who is drinking mate hears the strange noise coming out from the
bombilla saying: "I have no more water!". The cebador continues
refilling the mate with hot water and it is passed continuously to the
next person around (should not skip anyone), until yerba loses its taste
(after 15 refills of water approx.). When this happens, the cebador
should throw away half of used yerba and refilling the mate cup with the
same quantity of unused yerba. The taste of yerba will continue for
more water refills. If someone does not want to continue drinking mate,
when the mate is returned to the cebador, it is said "Thank you!", the
cebador understands this immediately, and skip this person the next
round.
This can also be called "ceremony of mate", because the
cebador is respected by others, waiting their turn on the following
round of mate, and "thank you" is said to the cebador in appreciation to
the delicious drunk mates.