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The mate gourd is the emblematic object of the drink of the same name, and true mate enthusiasts often have gourds that are closer to an object of art than a simple container.
But no matter how beautiful a calabash may be, if it's not properly maintained, it can quickly become unusable. Fortunately, following a few simple maintenance guidelines will ensure your calabash lasts for years to come!
Although the word "calabash" should only refer to the fruit used to make the container, we use this term for mate cups made from all types of materials, for the sake of simplicity.
Mateo friends, after drinking a good mate, it is always advisable to clean the container well - whether it is a traditional gourd or a glass mate pot.
Cleaning the mate gourd itself is very simple - simply throw away the yerba mate as soon as you have finished your mate, then rinse and dry the inside of the container well.
But to ensure proper maintenance of your mate pot, it may be necessary to follow a few additional rules depending on the container you use.
The traditional gourd calabash requires special care. The same goes for all leather-covered mate cups (whether made of gourd, glass, or ceramic).
The only containers that are truly maintenance-free are those made of metal (stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), plastic, or even glass and ceramic (as long as they are not covered in leather).
Here are some tips for maintaining a gourd mate cup.
The essential step of curing the gourd , also called "running in the gourd," makes the squash more resistant. A well-cured (and maintained) squash can be used for a very long time.
The number one enemy of any gourd: humidity . The ideal is therefore, after each use, to dry the inside of the gourd as much as possible with a cloth or paper towel to prevent water from stagnating inside.
If exposed to moisture for a long time, the gourd can become moldy. Fortunately, there are ways to restore a moldy gourd .
A classic mistake, drying the gourd upside down poses two problems:
In a nutshell, you need to dry the gourd with a cloth or paper towel, then leave it to dry right side up so that it can get some air.
Ideally, if you are somewhere sunny, you can leave your gourd in the sun for about ten minutes to ensure it is completely dry.
Why a section dedicated to the maintenance of the leather and the ferrule? Because there are types of mate cups that are not made of gourd and are still covered with leather and a ferrule: some mate pots are made of glass or ceramic .
For a leather-covered gourd , you will therefore need to follow the advice in this section as well as the previous one.
While for glass/ceramic gourds covered with leather, you just need to pay attention to the points in this part.
Yes, we already gave this tip in the previous section. But it's really important for all leather-covered mate cups, because when you put them upside down, water seeps under the ferrule, and this can cause two problems:
It is recommended to avoid submerging the metal strapping. This prevents water from seeping underneath and unhooking it (or worse, seeping under the leather).
It may seem counterintuitive, but it is not recommended to clean your calabash directly under the tap . Leather is a sensitive material, so it is best to keep it away from water as much as possible.
Obviously, never getting the leather wet is impossible, especially when cleaning your calabash after a good mate... Hence our last piece of advice.
To put it simply, every time you rinse the inside of your gourd, you'll probably slightly wet the outside... It doesn't matter, just dry the leather with a cloth!
Authentic gourd mate gourd:
Additional precautions for leather-covered mate gourds:
And because a picture is worth a thousand words, here is a short explanatory video (in Spanish) from our Argentinian counterparts Matesur :
The traditional mate gourd is a beautiful object that requires minimal care—unless you choose one made of metal or plastic. By following the various care tips in this article, you should be able to keep your gourd in optimal condition for a long time.
Maintenance is a key consideration when purchasing a gourd. While true mate makers will almost always opt for an authentic gourd, which requires the most maintenance, it's highly recommended for beginners to use a stainless steel, glass, or ceramic mate cup. This allows you to learn how to prepare mate without having to worry about maintaining a traditional gourd.
