Yerba Mate: How to cure a gourd

Yerba Mate easy instructions

1) Pour some yerba mate into your cured gourd.

2) Pour warm water onto some of the yerba mate.

3) Relax until the yerba mate awakens .

4) Put straw into yerba mate.

5) Pour some water and drink.

watch instructional video

It is not necessary to cure a gourd

Wood gourds need no curing

Traditional gourds will cure naturally with use, but curing will improve taste and strengthen gourd.

Gourd curing easy instructions

1) Pour some yerba mate into the gourd.

2) Fill gourd to brim with water

3) Let gourd sit filled with water and yerba mate for a day or two.

4) Clean inside with boiling water only.

5) Dry gourd in window light or other arid condition for a day or two.

Gourd curing detailed instructions

1) Pour some yerba mate into the gourd.

The gourd can be given flavor during this process by adding something to the yerba mate; Rum, mint leaf, stevia leaf, lemon peels, orange peels, or honey are some popular examples.

2) Fill gourd to brim with water

3) Let gourd sit filled with water and yerba mate for a day or two.

The gourd drinks the water and absorbs flavor.

It is normal for the yerba mate plant to create mold in the curing gourd; some choose to repeat the first two steps during the wait..

4) Clean inside with boiling water only.

Never use soap on a gourd; the gourd will drink the soap.

Loose particles other than the stem at the base can be scraped out with spoon.

5) Dry gourd in window light or other arid condition for a day or two.

The gourd constricts and tightens as it releases moisture.

Time will vary depending on environmental conditions.

Direct sunlight can be used in non-desert environments.