Wooden mate calabashes charm with their natural appeal, warm touch, and authenticity. But before enjoying your first infusion, one crucial step is required: preparing your calabash. Here’s everything you need to know to start off right.

Why choose a wooden calabash?

Wood, often palo santo or carob, gives mate a subtly woody flavour and an artisanal look. Each calabash is unique, and over time, it develops its own patina and taste.

Step 1: Initial cleaning

First, rinse your calabash with warm water (no soap) to remove dust or manufacturing residue. Gently dry it with a clean cloth.

Step 2: Nourishing the wood

To prevent cracking, it is recommended to nourish the wood with a bit of vegetable oil such as coconut or sunflower. Apply a thin layer inside, let it sit for a few hours, then wipe off the excess.

Step 3: Curing the calabash

Curing prepares the wood to receive yerba mate and helps prevent mould or unpleasant odours. Two approaches are possible.

Traditional yerba mate method

Fill the calabash halfway with used yerba mate

Add hot (not boiling) water

Let sit for 24 to 48 hours

Empty the calabash and gently scrape the inner walls with a wooden spoon

Rinse with warm water and let air dry, opening facing down

Alcohol curing variant (optional)

This method is often used to neutralize strong tannins in certain woods, especially palo santo

Pour a small amount of neutral alcohol such as vodka or grain alcohol into the calabash

Swirl the alcohol to coat the entire inner surface

Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes

Discard the alcohol, rinse thoroughly with warm water, and let dry upside down

⚠️ Tip: use this method sparingly. It does not replace traditional curing. It is ideal for very aromatic woods or new calabashes with an overly strong taste.

Ready for your first mate

Once cured, your calabash is ready to welcome your favourite yerba. Be sure to use a suitable bombilla and always dry your mate thoroughly after use to avoid stagnant moisture.

Conclusion

A wooden mate calabash is more than just a container. It is a tasting companion that improves over time. By caring for it from the start, you ensure moments of authentic pleasure and sharing.