[...means "bitter"; The most typical drinking method.]
To cure a gourd for drinking mate amargo...
--First wash your gourd with hot water (no soap) and remove any loose interior of the gourd with a spoon. [These gourds are a natural product and may contain dried pulp--but this curing process will help clean the gourd--and inhibit mold growth as well.]
--Do not remove the inner hard "stem" from the flower end of the interior of the gourd--this could result in a greater liklihood of seepage.
--Fill completely with new or spent yerba. We now have free yerba for curing--available in our MATES category listing.
--Fill to the top with hot water and let sit for an entire day.
--Clean out as described above.
--Repeat these steps two more times, clean out the yerba, let dry completely, and your gourd will be infused with flavor and ready to use!
Dulce (style)
[...or "sweet" mate--an optional method.]
To cure a gourd for drinking mate dulce cure as above, then...
Wet the inside of the mate first with hot water.
Pour in sugar so that it sticks to the insides of the mate gourd.
Into this place one burning ember of charcoal and rapidly shake it around so as to "carmelize" the interior in all parts! The flavor will endure for an entire mate drinking session.
Recharge your mate in this manner as often as you like.
