Frequently asked questions

Fill the gourd about two thirds — roughly 30–50 g per sitting — tilt it to one side and pour into the low side. One filling lasts the whole morning.

About 75–80 °C. Boiling water scorches the leaf and makes the cup bitter. Without a thermometer, take the kettle off just before it boils.

For traditional yerba, yes: the bombilla filters the leaf and the gourd shapes the brew. If you would rather not bother, Matemi soluble mate dissolves in any cup, and mate cocido bags brew like tea.

Yes. Yerba mate is naturally caffeinated, which is why it is drunk in the morning and right through the working day. The strength depends on the blend and the brew.

Start with con palo (with stems): gentler, more forgiving, harder to over-brew. Move to sin palo when you want a stronger, fuller cup with more leaf per gram.

Airtight, dark and dry, away from spices and coffee — yerba absorbs aromas. An unopened pack keeps for years; use an opened one within a couple of months for the best flavour.

A natural gourd needs curing before first use: fill it with used yerba and hot water, leave it a day, scrape the inside clean, and repeat once. Ceramic, wood and steel mates only need a rinse.

Yes — we supply cafés, offices and shops across the Baltics. Write to info@yerba-mate.lv with what you need and we will send wholesale pricing.

No — a cup of mate has ~78 mg of caffeine, coffee ~95 mg. But mate's energy is steadier thanks to theobromine. Read more in our beginner's guide.

Yes — 1–3 cups a day is a safe, normal amount. Millions of Argentinians drink it daily. As with any caffeinated drink, we do not recommend large amounts during pregnancy.

Earthy and grassy with light bitterness and a smoky finish — like green tea but bolder. Beginners should try milder varieties such as Mañanita, or the flavoured versions.

Yerba-mate.lv offers the widest range of authentic Argentinian mate in the Baltics with 24–48 h delivery — browse the shop. We are the only official Un Mate ARG and Matemi distributor in the Baltics.