Mate rewards a little technique. Get the basics right and every gourd tastes better, lasts longer, and clogs less. Here's how we prepare it, hot or cold, plus a few things nobody tells you the first time.
What you need
Four things, and you probably only need to buy them once: loose leaf yerba mate, a gourd or cup, a bombilla (the metal straw with a built-in filter), and water just off the boil. New to all of it? The Sherba Starter Kit bundles all four so you're not guessing at ratios or hunting for a bombilla that actually fits.
How to prepare hot mate
Step 1 — Fill the gourd
Fill the gourd about two thirds full with Sherba. Leave room for the leaves to expand and for easy refills later.
Step 2 — Shake and create a slope
Cover the top, shake gently, then tilt the gourd to settle the leaves into a slope with an open pocket on one side. That pocket is where the water goes.
Step 3 — Moisten and insert the bombilla
Add a small splash of cool water to the lower side and let it sit for about a minute — this keeps the fine particles from clogging the bombilla. Then insert the bombilla into the moistened pocket and leave it still. Don't stir; the bombilla should stay put through the whole session.
Step 4 — Pour, sip, and refill
Heat water to 70–80°C (roughly a minute off the boil — full boiling water scorches the leaf and turns the flavor bitter). Pour slowly into the same lower side, sip through the bombilla, and refill in the same spot each time. A good batch of leaves holds flavor through many refills before it's time to swap it out.
How to prepare cold mate (tereré)
Same setup, cold water instead of hot — ideal for Lebanon's warmer months. Fill and moisten the gourd the same way, then pour cold or iced water instead of heated water. Some people add citrus, mint, or a splash of juice to the water; the mate itself doesn't need it, but it's a common way to make tereré your own. A Sherba thermos keeps a batch of cold water at temperature for hours if you're prepping ahead.
Strength, temperature, and taste
More leaf, less water, and repeated refills all make for a stronger cup. If it tastes flat, the leaf has likely given up its flavor — that's normal after enough refills, not a sign anything went wrong. If it tastes bitter, the water was probably too hot. Adjust in small steps until it matches how you actually like to drink it; there's no single "correct" strength.
Caring for your gear
Rinse the gourd and bombilla with warm water after each use — no soap, which can linger in the gourd's pores and affect future flavor. Let everything air dry fully before storing. A dry gourd and a clear bombilla are the two things that keep every future cup tasting right.
Preparing mate in Lebanon
Mate has its own established place in Lebanese and Syrian daily life, often prepared and enjoyed a little differently than the shared-gourd tradition common in Argentina and Paraguay. There's no single "correct" way to drink it — use your own cup, share one, drink it solo at your desk. What matters is the leaf and the water, not the ritual around it.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my bombilla keep clogging?
Usually it's fine mate dust settling around the filter. Moistening the leaves before your first pour (Step 3) is the biggest fix. If it still clogs, try a coarser refill or gently tap the bombilla rather than stirring it.
How many refills can I get from one gourd?
It varies with leaf quality and how strong you like it, but a good unsmoked loose leaf like Sherba typically holds flavor through 8–15 refills before it's time to empty and start fresh.
Do I need a bombilla, or can I use a regular straw?
A regular straw will pull loose leaf into your mouth. The bombilla's built-in filter is what keeps the leaf in the gourd and the water in your cup — it's not optional equipment, just part of how mate is meant to be drunk.
Is it normal to drink mate every day?
Many people do, the same way they'd have coffee or tea daily. Yerba mate naturally contains caffeine, so treat it the way you'd treat any regular caffeinated drink and adjust based on how you personally respond to it.
Ready to start? Shop Sherba loose leaf mate or get everything at once with the Starter Kit. Based in Lebanon? See where to buy Sherba and how delivery works.