So, you’ve recently heard whispers about yerba mate—the South American tea that has been around for centuries. Maybe you saw a friend sipping what looked like grass from a cup, or overheard someone calling it as the 'Messi drink'. If you're curious, you're in the right place. 

Starting out as a matero doesn’t have to be complicated. At its core, it’s a ritual, like speciality coffee, or matcha, or doomscrolling on TikTok when you first wake up.

In South America, it's typically a communal ritual where materos would pass the same cup around, but understandably, that might not be everyone's cup of tea. Hah.  

What you'll need to get started

• Yerba Mate: Start with a smooth, beginner-friendly brand (We recommend CBSe Guaraná Energía). Avoid bold, smoked types for now—unless you’re one of those all-in-or-nothing types.
  
  
• Mate Gourd: Traditionally, it is made of dried calabash (a fruit). But we recommend stainless steel for beginners—it's easier to wash and maintain. You can always upgrade later if you’re feeling fancy.
  
  
• Bombilla (pronounced bom-bee-ya): This is your straw and filter all in one.
  
  
• Hot Water: Around 65-80°C depending on the mate. Never boiling—it’ll scald the leaves and ruin the taste.

The Ritual

1. Fill your gourd halfway with yerba. (around 40-45g based on a 220ml cup.)
   
   
2. Cover the top with the palm of your hand, and turn the cup upside down. Palm too small? Use a coaster.
    
   
3. Shake the cup upside-down for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. This helps the dust settle and brings coarser leaves to the top.
   
   
4. Tilt the gourd so the leaves are heaped to one side.
   
   
5. Pour a splash of warm water (about 50-60°C) into the empty space. to allow the bottom layer to expand and hold its shape. 
   
   
6. Place the cup on the bombilla, with the exposed side tilting up. Wait about 2- 3 minutes for the water to be absorbed by the leaves. 
   
   
7. Shape the tea mountain with your bombilla, pressing the leaves towards one side. Then place the filter part of the straw into the opening and push it under the bottom layer of leaves till it feels snug. 
   
   
8. Pour hot water (ideal temperature based on the mate). Sip slowly, and refill from a thermos until the flavour fades. 

To kickstart your mate journey, we’ve curated a flight of five blends—each with its own strength and flavour profile—so you can explore and discover what suits your taste.

As you continue sipping through the rest of the morning, you’ll notice the mate changes. The flavour evolves, and so might your morning routine.

Welcome to the circle, matero.