Steps to prepare a good Mate
1- Fill quarters of the gourd with good quality of yerba mate. Avoid to fill the whole gourd because yerba will swell when we add the water.
2- Cover the gourd with the palm of our hand, turn it upside down, and shake it energetically. This is the key to mix the components of yerba, mainly the dust, so that the tasting is good and the metal straw does not get occluled.
3- Turn it again, and tilt the yerba mate slighly at 45° angles.
4- Leave aside yerba mate, and we then have a sort of chanel where we pour warm water (40°) degree, and then place the metal staw in the same place. We should not move the metal straw because it may get clogged.
5- Now we can pour the hot water, just where the metal straw is. The water must be at between 75° and 80° degrees celsius. More temperature harms aromas and flavors of yerba mate. Avoid boiled water.