Mate gourd and bombilla: which to choose and how to care for them
Short answer: A mate gourd is the cup you drink yerba mate from, a bombilla is the metal straw with a filter. A gourd made from a real calabash or wood is traditional, but needs more care: you cure it first and let it dry well after every use. A gourd made of metal, glass or ceramic is easier to keep clean. With a bombilla, the filter matters most. After every session, throw away the leaves, rinse everything and let it dry open.
Last updated: 5 November 2026 · Written by Florian Fermin
If you want to drink yerba mate the traditional way, you need two things: a gourd and a bombilla. There are many kinds, from a dried calabash to a steel cup. Below you can read the differences, what to look for when buying and how to look after them. At GOYU we sell a gourd set ourselves, so we use it as an example. What yerba mate itself is, you can read in yerba mate: what is it and how do you make it?
What is a mate gourd and what is a bombilla?
The gourd, in South America itself also called mate, is the cup that holds the leaves. The bombilla is a metal straw with a filter at the bottom: you drink the tea and the leaves stay in the gourd. Traditionally, a gourd was made from a dried calabash, from wood or from porcelain (Gawron-Gzella et al., 2021). Today you also see many cups made of metal, glass and ceramic.
What types of mate gourds are there?
| Material | What you notice | Care |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gourd (dried calabash) | Traditional, light, every gourd is different | Cure first, let it dry well after use, no soap |
| Wood | Traditional, can taste of wood at first | Cure first, let it dry well, no soap |
| Metal (aluminium or stainless steel) | Sturdy, doesn't break, doesn't take on flavours | Rinse, a little washing-up liquid is fine |
| Glass or ceramic | Doesn't take on flavours, you can see what's inside | Rinse, a little washing-up liquid is fine; breakable |
Not sure? If you're just starting with yerba mate, a gourd made of metal, glass or ceramic is the easiest. You don't need to cure it and it's quick to clean. A natural gourd is lovely if you want to experience the tradition, but it needs more attention.
Which bombilla should you choose?
The difference is mainly in the filter at the bottom. The finer the filter, the fewer particles you get, but the faster it can clog.
- Flat, spoon-shaped filter: the most common model. Works well with traditionally ground yerba mate.
- Spring or coil filter: a small spring around the end. Often removable, so easy to clean.
- Tube filter: a tube with small holes all around. You can place the bombilla in any direction.
A bombilla is usually made of metal, such as stainless steel. A metal bombilla gets warm when you pour in hot water, so take the first sip carefully.
Buying a mate gourd: what should you look for?
- Material: choose according to how much care you want to put in, see the table above.
- Size: a larger gourd holds more yerba, which you can refill more often.
- Stability: a gourd with a flat base stands more easily.
- Cleaning: a small brush or stick for the bombilla filter is handy.
- Starter set or separate: if you don't have yerba mate yet, a set with leaves is the easiest. If you already have yerba, a separate gourd with bombilla is enough.
Our gourd set with bombilla consists of a black aluminium gourd, a bombilla and a cleaning stick. The yerba mate tea set contains a gourd and a bombilla with two 250 gram bags of yerba mate. That is our starter set. Other accessories, such as a glass drinking bottle and a steel measuring scoop, are in our accessories.
Do you need to cure a mate gourd first?
Only a gourd made from a real calabash or wood. Curing means preparing the inside before you drink from it for the first time. In South America many people do it like this:
- Fill the gourd with used, wet yerba and add hot, not boiling, water.
- Leave it for a day.
- Throw away the yerba and gently scrape the inside clean with a spoon.
- Repeat this once or twice and then let the gourd dry well.
A gourd made of metal, glass or ceramic doesn't need curing. Simply rinse our aluminium gourd with warm water before first use.
How do you clean a mate gourd and bombilla?
- Throw the leaves away after your session. Don't leave wet yerba in the gourd for hours, especially not in a natural gourd.
- Rinse the gourd with warm water. A natural or wooden gourd without soap, as it takes on the smell of washing-up liquid. Metal, glass and ceramic can be washed with a little washing-up liquid.
- Clean the bombilla filter. Rinse it through and remove any remaining particles with a small brush or the stick from the set.
- Let everything dry open, not upside down on the counter and not in a closed cupboard.
If a natural gourd smells musty or you see mould on the inside, stop using it. You can avoid that by letting it dry well after every use.
Why does your bombilla get clogged?
Usually because of fine particles. Shake them out before pouring by shaking the gourd upside down against your hand, and don't stir with the bombilla. Place the bombilla once and leave it for the whole session. How to make yerba mate step by step without a clogged bombilla, you can read in how to make yerba mate in a gourd.
Summary in 3 points
- A natural or wooden gourd is traditional but needs more care; metal, glass and ceramic are easier.
- Choose a bombilla by its filter: flat, spring or tube. Don't stir, so it clogs less quickly.
- Throw away the leaves after every session, rinse and let everything dry open.
Frequently asked questions
What's in a yerba mate starter set?
Usually a gourd, a bombilla and yerba mate. Our yerba mate tea set contains a gourd, a bombilla and two 250 gram bags of yerba mate.
Do you need to cure a metal gourd?
No. Curing is only needed for a gourd made from a real calabash or wood. Rinse a metal gourd with warm water before first use.
Can you wash a mate gourd with washing-up liquid?
A gourd made of metal, glass or ceramic, yes, with a little washing-up liquid and a good rinse. Rinse a natural or wooden gourd with water only, otherwise it takes on the smell of the washing-up liquid.
Can you drink yerba mate without a bombilla?
Yes. Make yerba mate in a teapot or French press and pour it through a strainer into your cup. You just miss out on the traditional way of drinking.
Sources
- Gawron-Gzella A, Chanaj-Kaczmarek J, Cielecka-Piontek J (2021). Yerba Mate: A Long but Current History. Nutrients 13(11):3706. Review, including the traditional gourd and bombilla. doi.org/10.3390/nu13113706
- Product information GOYU Calabash set with bombilla and Yerba Mate Tea Set with Gourd and Bombilla, accessed 5 November 2026.
You'll find all our yerba mate, gourds and sets on the page buy yerba mate. Curious how yerba mate compares with matcha? Read yerba mate or matcha.
Gourd and bombilla from GOYU
A black aluminium gourd with bombilla and cleaning stick, or the complete set with two bags of yerba mate.
