Maté: a beginner's guide, from gourd to teapot
By the LBDT Sommelier · published on · 3 min read
Reviewed and approved by the La Boutique du Thé team
Maté is an infusion of South American holly leaves: green, grassy, slightly bitter and caffeinated. It is traditionally drunk from a gourd with a filtering straw, the bombilla, but is just as easily prepared in a teapot, 5 minutes in water at 80 °C. To begin, an organic plain maté at €5 per 100 g and a bombilla at €11 are all you need.
What maté is
Maté comes from Ilex paraguariensis, a holly grown in Argentina, Paraguay and southern Brazil. The leaves are dried, sometimes lightly smoked, then aged and ground: this is the “yerba”. Green maté is the most common; there is also a roasted maté, which is gentler. Plain, it tastes grassy and slightly bitter, with a lingering finish reminiscent of green tea.
Maté contains caffeine, also called mateine; our product pages list it as “moderate caffeine”. It is a daytime drink, not an evening one.
Mimaté matés, yerba from the producer
Mimaté is an Argentine producer whose maté we sell loose leaf: the Maté original bio (€5.00 per 100 g), grown without inputs and dried without smoke, is the ideal starting point for the gourd; the Maté Citron and the Maté Fruits des bois (€6.00) are flavoured with no added sugar.
Ombelle blends, organic and made with whole ingredients
Ombelle, the organic herbal infusion brand of La Boutique du Thé, crafts maté into blends, with whole ingredients whose origins appear on our world map: Maté Vert Pur d’Argentine (€5.60), Aurore de Menthe & Maté (€7.80, maté, mint, green tea), Fraîcheur Latine Citron (€8.40), Chai Maté Vert des Gauchos (€8.40, cinnamon, cardamom), Pêche Abricot Lumière (€8.40). All loose leaf, from a 15 g sample to 1 kg.
Mariage Frères flavoured matés
Mariage Frères flavours maté as it does its teas, in 80 g tea tins: Polo Club with the Marco Polo flavour, Latin Lover with spices, Latino Mucho with bergamot, Libertango with citrus and red berries, Rose Milonga with rose and almond. These are matés for the teapot, 5 minutes at 80 °C, to give as a gift or to drink in the morning instead of coffee.
Preparing maté in a gourd
- Fill the gourd two-thirds full with yerba. Tilt it and tap so that the fine powder rises to one side.
- Pour a little lukewarm water into the hollow and let it swell for a minute.
- Insert the bombilla into the hollow, and do not move it afterwards.
- Pour in hot water, 75 to 80 °C, never boiling: boiling water scorches the yerba and makes it harsh.
- Drink, and top up with water for as long as the flavour holds, often ten times or more.
The bombilla is cleaned with its brush; the gourd is rinsed with clean water, without soap, and left to air-dry.
Preparing maté in a teapot or cup
This is the method we recommend for flavoured matés: 2.5 g per 200 ml, water at 80 °C, 5 minutes in a fine filter, as the yerba is very finely ground. The Ombelle blends with fruit and spices can take 100 °C and 5 to 10 minutes. Iced, use 12 g per litre of cold water in the fridge overnight: lemon maté and peach-apricot maté are the most refreshing this way.
Which one to choose
- You are discovering maté: Mimaté's Maté original bio, in a gourd or a teapot.
- You find maté too bitter: a citrus-flavoured maté, Fraîcheur Latine Citron, or Mimaté's Maté Citron.
- You are replacing your morning coffee: Chai Maté Vert des Gauchos, with spices.
- You want a maté in a tin, to give as a gift: Polo Club, the Marco Polo flavour on maté, or Latin Lover with spices.
The sommelier's selection
Frequently asked questions
Does maté contain caffeine?
Yes, caffeine, sometimes called mateine. Our product pages list it as moderate caffeine; maté is best enjoyed in the morning and during the day.
Do you need a gourd to drink maté?
No. A teapot with a fine filter or a cup with an infuser will do, 5 minutes at 80 °C. The gourd and bombilla are tradition, not an obligation.
What water temperature for maté?
75 to 80 °C for a pure maté. Any hotter and it becomes harsh. The Ombelle blends with fruit and spices can take 100 °C.
Is the maté sold here loose leaf?
Mimaté and Ombelle matés are sold exclusively as loose leaf, from 50 g to 1 kg, packed to order.
Are Mariage Frères matés available loose leaf?
No, they are sold in 80 g tea tins: Polo Club, Latin Lover, Latino Mucho, Libertango and Rose Milonga.
To go further
Written by the LBDT Sommelier, La Boutique du Thé, official Mariage Frères stockist in Bordeaux and Nice since 1999. Published on 15 October 2026. Prices as observed on the date of publication; the price shown on the product page prevails.
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