How to Cure Yerba Mate Cups

A yerba mate cup is actually a gourd that comes from the climbing plant Lagenaria Vulgaris. The gourd is hollowed out and left outdoors to dry, sometimes for months. After they dry, they become very hard, almost like wood. Curing is the process of removing the soft membrane left inside the gourd. If the gourd is not cured, your first few cups of yerba mate will be a bit bitter, but the cup will eventually cure on its own just by using it.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Teapot
• Spoon
• Paper towels

1. Pour boiling water into the gourd. Fill your cup to the just under the metal rim, if it has one. If you fill past the metal rim, it may cause the cup to leak, but it will stop after the first few uses.

2. Allow the boiling water to sit in the cup for about 10 minutes. The water will cause the cup to expand, while the membrane separates from the sides. The membrane inside is what you want to get rid of.

3. Pour out the boiling water and take a spoon and gently scrape out the membrane. It is best to do this under running water as the water will help keep the membrane from settling back on the inside of the cup. Do not remove the stem inside the cup or it will leak.

4. Repeat the process if there is more than just a little bit of the membrane remaining. Dry out with a paper towel and place another paper towel inside the cup and allow it to completely dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Never use soap on a yerba mate gourd.

References

• Curing a Yerba Mate Gourd