Mate ,  a faithful companion of Argentines, will always be among us both to share with loved ones and to meditate in solitude. However, if it is new and we do not want it to die trying, it is necessary to know how to cure a mate before starting to use it.

Mates can be made from a wide variety of materials: nickel silver, wood, gourd, bone, metal, glass, or plastic.

Organic Material Containers

Containers made from organic materials require a procedure that cannot be missed before starting to use it, as we said at the beginning, it must be cured.

For this there are different methods, simple but necessary to achieve the best performance and especially ensure that the mate lasts over time in perfect condition.

Why is matte curing so essential?

Curing a mate allows the pores of the organic material to be sealed, which is why the container must be prevented from damaging the good flavor of the infusion.

Let’s remember that these mates take time to dry once used, this can cause mold inside. Therefore, curing helps it dry faster and thus prevent these fungi from generating.

How to cure a mate?

But the mates that must be cured are only those made of pumpkin or wood, since otherwise they can crack with hot water and, in addition, with curing we help avoid the formation of fungi and the bitter or acid taste that the mates have. pigments of certain woods.

On the other hand, when we cure the mate we get rid of the remains of wood and dust that have remained on the internal walls. There are various healing techniques that depend on the material the mate is made of and the use we are going to give it.

Here are some of the methods you can use:

For bitter mate:

We wash the inside with hot water (not boiling) and fill the mate to the top with used yerba (from another bitter mate). As the grass dries, we add warm water to moisten it.

Then we leave the mate with wet yerba for a whole day, empty it and rinse it and it will be ready to start using it.

According to tradition, mate must be used for the first time before dawn, and this has to do with the influence of the moon on the wood, as our gauchos knew well.

 For sweet mate:

We moisten the inside with a little warm water and add a few teaspoons of sugar. We cover the mouth of the mate with our hand and shake so that the walls are covered with sugar.

Then we let it rest for a while, without moving it, until it is very dry. We rinse with hot water (not boiling) and fill with moistened grass.

Let it rest again, empty and rinse. Ready to use!

We can also use another method: we wash it with hot water, drain and moisten the inside with cane. Then we fill the mate with yerba and complete with cane.

Finally, we let it rest overnight in the open air.

Wood mate:

To protect our wooden mate we can spread the inside with oil or butter, in this way we close the pores. Then we proceed with the usual curing with used grass and rest.

It is important to add warm water from time to time and not allow the herb to dry out.

Bone mate:

We must leave it for a whole day in water and detergent to eliminate the grease, which produces an unpleasant taste.

How to cure a carob mate:

As we know, “curable mates”, also called “tanned mates”, are mates that have woody walls such as coconut or various woods such as carob, for example. In fact, it is essential to do so to avoid possible cracks.

• According to some experts on the subject, before curing it, you can do a test by spreading it with a layer of oil or butter. The goal is to seal the pores and thus extend its useful life.
• If the mate is new and therefore it is the first time we use it, it should be washed well with hot water, filled with the yerba completely moistened with warm water and let it rest for approximately 24 hours.
• The next step is to discard the yerba, eliminating the adhesions on the walls of the mate and without washing the mate, we repeat the process 2 or 3 more times, in this way the yerba is well impregnated and the pores are sealed or covered.
• Another healing method is to simply fill the mate with used yerba and add a little hot water, letting it rest for approximately 24 hours. Then when the resting hours are over, without throwing away the herb, we add another little bit of hot water to let it rest for another 2 or 3 days. When the 3 days are over, throw away the mate yerba, rinse well and ready to use.

How to cure a plastic mate:

There is undoubtedly a great variety and styles of mates although they all fulfill the same function, however there is something available for all tastes. Curing is essential so that when using it, no other flavor or smell is transmitted, other than just that of the herb.

As we know, only pumpkin, wood and bone mates, among others, require curing; other materials should only be washed and rinsed well.

The plastic mate is an example of this, it only requires a good wash and rinse with plenty of water.

How to cure a matte glass:

This type of mate is widely chosen when purchasing it, one of the reasons is that it preserves the original flavor and properties of the yerba. It is also easy to wash, and is more hygienic because it does not generate fungi inside.

• The glass mate does not need to be cured because logically its material is glass, however if we drink it with sugar it is recommended to add 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and heat it with a lighter or the stove directly.
• Then we wait for the sugar to melt, we add the used herb to the top and finally, the boiled water. We let it rest for 12 to 24 hours, then we empty the mate and use a spoon to clean everything inside well.
• It is advisable to repeat the operation 3 times, if we wish.

How to cure a mate with embers:

Clearly the curing process depends on the type of mate we choose, for example if we choose a pumpkin mate to drink sweet mate, it is recommended to do it with a charcoal ember:

• To begin curing, it is always done from top to bottom, first wetting the inside of the mate with warm water.
• Then we add a couple of tablespoons of sugar to the inside of the mate so that it adheres.
• Previously we must have a charcoal ember ready and introduce it into the interior of the mate and shake quickly until it completely caramelizes on the walls of the mate, thus we will obtain a unique flavor that will last the entire mate session.
• This procedure can be repeated as many times as necessary and as desired.

How to cure a mate with mushrooms:

Without a doubt, humidity is everywhere, including in our mate if we do not take the necessary care. In fact, when moisture takes over the mate, white fungus occurs, which is quite unpleasant.

That is why it is essential after using our favorite mate, throw away the yerba, wash it well with water and dry it very well with a suitable cloth. It is also essential to store it in a dry place free of humidity.

How to cure it if it has fungus?

Materials

• Detergent
• Brush
• Boiling water
• dry cloth
• Ethyl alcohol

Procedure:

• We begin by cleaning the mate deeply, adding detergent and boiling water inside. With the help of the brush, we make constant movements on the walls of the mate, removing the fungi.
• We can also add a little bleach for a deeper cleaning.
• Next step, we rinse very well with plenty of water.
• Finally, dry with a cloth completely without leaving any wet corners.
• To completely ensure the elimination of the fungi, we soak the walls of the mate well with ethyl alcohol and very carefully proceed to light it. In this way, we make sure to completely burn any bacteria rooted inside the mate.

It is certainly the most effective method to completely eliminate fungi from our mate!

Recommendation:

As a last recommendation, another of the best-known methods is to spread the wood mate with a layer of oil or butter, to seal its pores and extend its life.

Let’s remember that wooden mates require extra care when they are in use because they run the risk of cracking and losing liquid. To avoid this, it is important to dry them well with a cloth or kitchen paper and let them breathe after each wash.

Let’s enjoy some delicious mates of our choice!