Your new mate just arrived. You've got the yerba, you've got the thermos, and you're itching to brew the first one. Hold on a second: if it's a calabaza gourd, it needs curing first.
Why cure it?
A calabaza is a natural gourd, and the inside comes with open pores and bits of pulp. Curing cleans and seals that interior, so your mate tastes like yerba, not raw gourd. A well-cured mate also holds up much better against moisture and mold.
There are many ways to cure a mate, and every mate drinker has their own. These are the steps we suggest.
What you'll need
- Yerba
- Water at 75–80 °C (167–176 °F)
- A spoon
- About four days of patience
Step by step
1. Fill it ¾ with yerba and wet it with water at 75–80 °C (167–176 °F). Never boiling: boiling water can crack the calabaza.
2. With the spoon, press the yerba against all the walls. Add more until it's completely full.
3. Let it sit for 24 hours, away from the sun. This is the easy part: you don't have to do a thing.
4. Remove all the yerba and scrape the inside well while it's still damp. Gently: you're cleaning, not sanding. Small bits of gourd coming off is normal.
5. Let it dry for 4 to 6 hours, opening facing up, in the shade.
Now repeat all five steps until you've done three rounds. Yes, three. It sounds like a lot for a mate, but it's four days of patience for a companion that lasts years.
Is your mate algarrobo wood?
Wood is cured differently: with butter, and just one round. If you bought it from Mates Florida, the steps are on the card in your order, and in our guide too.
What's next?
Your mate is cured. With use, the inside will darken and may even pick up green stains. Relax: that's the yerba doing its thing.
What's normal, what isn't, and what to do if mold ever shows up is all in Tu Primer Mate (in Spanish), along with everything that comes after curing: water temperature, building the yerba mountain and why the bombilla clogs.
If your calabaza or algarrobo mate is from Mates Florida, the guide is already yours: scan the QR on the curing card that came with your order.
Up next, read "How to take care of your mate" for tips to keep it with you for a long time.
Follow us on Instagram: @mates_florida
