Beautiful, stable hand made matero which is based on the wide and flat bottom pumpkins. Capacity about 180 -200 ml and high 6 cm. The surface this type of mate is ornamented by traditional Peruvian design carved and painted with natural paint. This type of pumpkins is planted in Selva Baja region in Peru which is close to the jungle.
This sort of original and traditional gourd is dried and impregnated for using it as the cup for drinking mate green or yerba mate. A top of the gourds is set round circle made from INOX steel which protects hole against damage and help to clasp the dish. Ring has also decorating function.
Every gourds are different and have not the same pattern and design. The decoration is made by fire and natural paints which comes from south american flora, before first using the gourd has to be prepared in a special way which let to keep it in proper way for a years.
Please read these guidelines to curing and caring for your gourd.
It is recommended to “cure” your new pumpkin ( we would say also mate for this type of dishes) prior to your first use. This helps to protect the gourd for mate green orb yerba mate use.
Using a green mate spoon, teaspoon, or similar curved item, scrape the inside of the gourd to remove any loose skin,pits and debris.
Fill the gourd ½ full with dry loose yerba mate leaves.
Carefully pour off the gourd with boiling water. Note: when drinking yerba mate later, do not use boiling water as this can burn your mouth and also harms the flavor of the yerba.
After a few minutes the water level should go down as it soaks into the yerba mate leaves. When this happens, carefully top off the gourd again with boiling water.
Let the gourd sit for about 12 hours to allow the yerba mate mixture to penetrate the gourd completely.
Empty and rinse the gourd with hot tap water.
Scrape the inside again, see step one.
Rinse with clean hot tap water and dry it quickly and completely see care instructions.
