Preparing Yerba Mate in a gourd

 Yerba Mate Gourd Preparation

Special tools For a special Herb

There are 2 items that Yerba Mate drinkers use to maximize the benefits of the herb: A Gourd and a Bombilla (straw).The special shape of the gourd compresses the Yerba Mate around the Bombilla, allowing the maximum extraction of the helpful nutrients. Ultimately the gourd and bombilla allow the yerba mate drinker to time release the healthful nutrients throughout the day without wasting any of the herb. The Gourd and Bombilla are fundamental, time-proven tools, which have benefited Yerba Mate drinking cultures for centuries.

Gourd:

The Gourd performs two important tasks: It compresses the tea to create suction and it enhances the flavor of the Yerba Mate.

Suction

As the Yerba Mate expands in the gourd, it uses the shape of the gourd to compress the tea around the bombilla. One can use a gourd that is not wider at the base and narrower at the top, but they will not get as much compression around the straw. The compression serves three functions:

• Helps to control the release of nutrients and chemicals from the special herb
• Helps to keep the straw from becoming clogged.
• Helps to create suction so that the nutrients can be pulled from the tea rather than just being soaked in water.

Flavor Enhancer

The gourd enhances the flavor of the Yerba Mate. The gourd reduces the bitterness of the tea and adds back any flavors it may have absorbed from previous uses. This means that the Gourd improves over time.

Gourd improves flavor of tea, subdues bitterness.

Said to "add its memories" into the flavor (i.e., one who uses honey in their yerba mate will discover that the gourd "remembers").

Gourd grows a natural mold reputed to be beneficial for heart muscle repair.

Gourd has a powerful natural resistance to many harmful bacteria.

Gourd allows one to use larger quantities of the yerba mate.

Tea Bags Vs. Traditional Gourd &, Bombilla

The latest evidence suggests that the basic western style of drinking most teas (i.e., small tea bag in water)does not extract sufficient nutrients or active ingredients to benefit the body. Jane Higdon, Ph.D., who writes for The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University states that the regular approach for drinking green tea may not extract sufficient levels of nutrients to bring about certain health benefits, such as inhibiting the development of cancer (2003). Likewise, the Department of Environmental Medicine at the University of Rochester notes that there is a level of tea compounds that must be in the blood of a person in order to benefit the body (2003, C. M. Palermo, J. I. Martin Hernando, et. al). They note that, "direct measurements in people's blood, in contrast, typically are less than one-tenth this amount". In the end, a 3 gram tea bag soaked in water does not deliver enough nutrients to really benefit the body.

The Gourd &, Straw provides the best quantities of nutrients. This Traditional Method of drinking Yerba Mate produces levels of nutrients "which are usually not attained with green tea or moderate wine drinking" (Bixby, 2005: Life Science) Additionally, the chemicals break down less which keeps the herb fresh since the Yerba Mate is not left to soak like most teas. As noted by the Harvard Medical School, "the best way to get the catechins and other flavonoids in tea is to drink it freshly brewed." (2005). The Traditional Method is the easiest, safest, and best way to drink Yerba Mate, producing the freshest and most beneficial tonic.

Frequency of Infusion

The Traditional Latin American method was described in 1889 by the cultural enthusiast Frank Vincent, "Mate is taken the first thing in the morning, and again, about the middle of the afternoon, regularly. Then, besides, whenever you call upon a person, at anytime of day or evening, mate is generally served as a delicate attention, whether your visit is of business or friendship." (Around and About South America, Twenty Months of Quest and Query). To maximize the health benefits of herbs or teas, it is best to drink it throughout the day. According to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, "…doing so throughout the day may be the most beneficial because you get a constant supply of antioxidants…", and that "studies touting the success of green tea report that subjects drank between three and six cups of tea daily." (2005). The Harvard Medical School concurs that the best method is to have "a cup of tea a few times a day to absorb antioxidants and other healthful plant compounds." (2005). Not surprisingly it is alsoan ancient principle to drink herbs often and throughout the day. Both ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese principles, notes Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine in Portland Oregon, extol the benefits of drinking small amount of fluids often throughout the day. (Dharmananda, 2005) Over 90% of Argentinians drink Yerba Mate every day, throughout the day.

Wood Gourds:

• Very stable, flat, wooden or metal bases.
• Do not need to be cured, so they are ready for use right away. Great for both beginners and seasoned drinkers.
• Easiest to keep clean.
• Add a pleasant flavor to the Yerba Mate from their first use, whereas non-wood gourds require time to develop their flavor enhancing properties.

Natural Gourds:

• Over time, natural gourds absorb and return the most flavors to the Yerba Mate, forming a “memory” of what the drinker likes. ,,Thus, the owner of a natural gourd crafts a unique and pleasant flavor using their favorite Yerba Mates and flavor additives.
• Better than any other type of gourd at subduing the natural bitterness of Yerba Mate.
• Need to be cured before use, so that the flavor of the gourd does not overpower the yerba mate.
• Best for seasoned mate drinkers.

Awakening the Soul within the Gourd

In Latin America the Gourd is described as having a memory. The Gourd flavors the Yerba Mate with its previous experiences. Many drinkers consider the Gourd to have a "soul" that contributes to the Yerba Mate Ritual. People will collect different gourds, each adding its own contribution to the experience.

Cureing Your Gourd

Easy Instructions

All gourds can be immediately used. Traditional gourds will cure naturally with use, but curing will improve taste and strengthen gourd. Therefore, it is not necessary to cure a gourd, and wood gourds need no curing. Normally, people will cure a non-wood gourd before using it the first time:

1. Pour some yerba mate into the gourd.
2. Fill gourd to brim with water
3. Let gourd sit filled with water and yerba mate for a day or two.
4. Clean inside with boiling water only.
5. Dry gourd in window light or other arid condition for a day or two.

Detailed Instructions

Your goal is to cure the gourd so that the water no longer penetrates the gourd. Any natural product that takes on water is going to take on character. Do not become concerned with bubbles or color distortions, they are a natural occurrence of the curing process that will help to develop the character of your gourd.

1. Pour some yerba mate into the gourd.
2. The gourd can be given flavor during this process by adding something to the yerba mate, Rum, mint leaf, stevia leaf, lemon peels, orange peels, or honey are some popular examples.
3. Fill gourd to brim with water.
4. Let gourd sit filled with water and yerba mate for a day or two.
5. The gourd drinks the water and absorbs flavor.
6. When you feel that the gourd has adequately absorbed water, that is when you may move on to step 4.
7. It is normal for the yerba mate plant to create mold in the curing gourd, some choose to repeat the first two steps during the wait, while others choose to use rum during the curing process in order to prevent any mold from ever forming.
8. Clean inside with boiling water only.
9. Never use soap on a gourd, the gourd will drink the soap.
10. Loose particles other than the stem at the base can be scraped out with spoon.
11. Dry gourd in window light or other arid condition for a day or two.
12. The gourd constricts and tightens as it releases moisture.
13. Time will vary depending on environmental conditions.
14. Direct sunlight can be used in non-desert environments.
15. You will know the gourd is dry because the inside will show no watermarks.
16. Allowing the gourd to warm under the sun or near the heater allows the gourd to cure itself.

Caring for your Gourd

Each time you are done using the gourd, it is recommended that you discard the used yerba mate in order to allow the gourd to dry and prevent too much mold from developing. Wood gourds hardly ever develop the moisture mold. Traditional gourds, however, if allowed to remain moist for too long, will develop a natural mold. Often this happens during the curing process. Do not be alarmed, the gourd can be easily cleaned. NEVER USE SOAP. NEVER USE DETERGENT. The majority of yerba mate drinkers merely use boiling water to destroy the mold. The native yerba mate drinkers point out that the remains will discolor the gourd, but not make the gourd unusable. Indeed, some Latin Americans suggest that some of the benefits of yerba mate (specifically the reparation of the heart muscle) may be imparted by the unique mold that the yerba mate and the gourd combine to create.

Tricks

Humid climates:

It may help to put a paper towel or napkin in the gourd after you use it. This will help absorb the moisture that may remain. This will become less important as the gourd is used/dried more often. It will tighten up and become more resistent to absorbing water.

Cracks:

Wood may crack around the lip of the gourd if the wood gourd is not used regularly. Rubbing Olive Oil on your wood gourd can contribute to making a wood gourd last forever. If you think your wood gourd is looking very dry, then do not be afraid to treat it to some Olive Oil.