Yerba Mate Starter Set – What Should It Include and Which One to Choose?

Buying your first yerba mate ever and not sure where to start? That’s completely normal. The leaves themselves are only half the story – without the right vessel and a bombilla, you simply won’t be able to brew it the way Argentinians or Paraguayans have done for generations. That’s why a yerba mate starter set is the safest choice for your first attempt: matero, bombilla, scoop and dried leaves in one box, with no guessing about what else you’ll need.

In this article, I’ll break down what a good starter set should include, how the different variants differ, and how much it really costs to enter the world of yerba mate. No fluff – just real prices, real contents.

What must be included in a yerba mate starter set

Four elements, not one less:

• Dried yerba mate leaves – usually 250-500 g, enough for a dozen or so to several dozen brews depending on how many times you re-infuse the same leaves.
• Matero – the brewing vessel, ceramic, wooden or made from a gourd. This is where the leaves “mature” and release their flavour with each subsequent infusion.
• Bombilla – a metal straw with a filter at the end that strains the leaves and lets you drink without swallowing bits of dried leaf.
• Scoop – a spoon for measuring and pouring yerba into the matero without spilling it all over the table. In Yerbador sets this is usually a beech wood scoop, which also looks great on the shelf.

Without a matero and a bombilla, the dried leaves alone don’t stand a chance – you can brew them like regular tea in a mug with an infuser, but then you lose the point of the ritual and part of the aroma that only comes out through traditional brewing in a matero.

Classic or flavoured starter set – how to choose

Yerbador has two families of starter sets, and it genuinely changes your first experience with yerba mate.

Classic, herbal blends – for example the set with a bombilla, matero and Herbal Balance yerba, where six cleansing herbs are added to the yerba mate leaves. This is the choice for someone who wants to feel the original, slightly bitter character of the infusion enriched with herbs, rather than fruity sweetness.

Flavoured, fruity-floral variants – like Rose Gardens (rose petals) or Peach White Blossom (peach with white tea). A gentler entry point for someone who’s worried about the typical bitterness of yerba and wants to first get used to the brewing ritual itself before reaching for pure, classic yerba.

If you’re not sure what to choose for your first time – a flavoured variant is the safer bet. The bitterness of classic yerba is something you learn to love, not necessarily something you love from the first sip.

Starter set with a thermos – who is it for

If you only brew yerba at home, the basic set is enough. But if you drink it at work, in the car or while travelling, it’s worth considering the thermos variant right away – because topping up the matero with hot water at the office without a kettle nearby is simply inconvenient.

The thermos keeps water hot for many hours, so filling it once in the morning is enough for several rounds of brewing throughout the day. This solution is especially appreciated by people who drink yerba the traditional way – meaning they re-infuse the same leaves multiple times, topping up with fresh, hot water.

Real prices of Yerbador starter sets

Specific numbers, so there’s no ambiguity about your starting budget:

• Starter Set – Bombilla + Matero + Yerba Herbal Balance + beech wood scoop – see the current price (reduced from the regular price).
• Yerba Mate Starter Set – Rose Gardens – see the current price (reduced from the regular price).
• Starter Set + Terremos PRO MAX – see the current price (reduced from the regular price).

The price difference between variants mainly comes down to what’s actually included – an extra scoop, a thermos, or a pricier herbal blend raise the value of the set, but they also genuinely increase its usefulness in the long run.

Which starter set suits which need

Not everyone reaches for yerba mate for the same reason, so it’s worth choosing a set for a specific goal, not just for the price.

• Want to feel the traditional, slightly bitter taste of yerba mate along with cleansing support – choose the set with Herbal Balance Yerba, where six herbs were added specifically for this effect.
• Afraid of bitterness and looking for a gentle start – Rose Gardens or Peach White Blossom, both with a fruity-floral character that masks the typical tartness of the leaf.
• You drink mostly outside the house – at work, while travelling, at the gym – the set with the Thermos PRO MAX, so you don’t have to worry about access to hot water throughout the day.
• Looking for weight control support alongside the ritual itself – sets with the Slim Fit line combine classic accessories with dried leaves of a different composition, tailored to this goal.

How much does it cost to get into yerba mate – set vs buying separately

Dried yerba mate leaves alone in a 500 g pack usually cost a certain amount depending on the line. A matero bought separately is another expense for a solid ceramic piece, and a bombilla adds even more on top. Added up separately, these three items come to a similar order of magnitude as a ready-made starter set – the difference is that when you buy separately you take on the risk of picking a bombilla that doesn’t fit the opening of your matero, while in a set that risk disappears, because everything has been matched at the factory. With a set you get the complete kit without spending extra time checking dimensions in the descriptions of several different products.

Starter set or individual elements separately

You can buy a matero, a bombilla, and dried leaves separately – but then you have to match the vessel size to the type of dried leaves yourself and check whether the bombilla fits the chosen matero in terms of length and opening width. A starter set eliminates this risk, because everything is already matched by the manufacturer. For someone seeing a matero for the first time in their life, that’s a significant saving of time and nerves.

People who have been drinking yerba mate for years and only replace the used dried leaves can of course buy just the dried leaves without the whole set – but that’s a different situation than starting from scratch.

How to start brewing after unpacking the set

Fill the matero with dried leaves up to two-thirds of its capacity, tilt the vessel and pack the leaves down in the lower part to create a slope. In the higher, empty part, pour in lukewarm water first – this moistens the leaves and prevents them from burning on first contact with hot water. Only after a moment, insert the bombilla under the slope and add hot water, but not boiling – 70-80 degrees is enough. You can find more about the ritual itself and the following brewing rounds in our step-by-step guide to brewing and drinking yerba mate.

Proven starter sets from Yerbador

Check out the product: Starter Set Bombilla + Matero + Yerba Herbal Balance + beech wood scoop

Check out the product: Yerba Mate Starter Set – Rose Gardens

Check out the product: Starter Set + Thermos PRO MAX

Starter sets for businesses and as gifts

The starter set is also one of the more popular ideas for a corporate gift – complete and ready to use straight out of the box, with nothing extra to buy. If you’re looking for larger quantities of sets for events, gifts for employees, or presents for clients, write directly to our B2B department – we’ll quote a wholesale order and select flavour variants tailored to your target group.

FAQ – frequently asked questions about starter sets

How long does the dried leaves from a starter set last?
With sets containing 250-300 g of dried leaves and traditional brewing with repeated refills of the same matero, one pack usually lasts 2-3 weeks of regular drinking.

Is a starter set suitable for someone who has never drunk yerba mate?
Yes, that’s exactly its purpose – it contains everything you need, without having to choose a matero and bombilla separately.

Which variant should you choose for the first time – classic or flavoured?
For people not yet familiar with yerba mate’s characteristic bitterness, a flavoured variant, e.g. with rose or peach, is often a better start.

Does the dried leaf in the Slim Fit set work differently than classic yerba mate?
Slim Fit is a separate line with added ingredients supporting metabolism – it’s worth checking its full description on the Yerbador Mate Slim Fit page, if you’re buying a starter set with weight loss support in mind.

Do you need to wash the matero before first use?
Ceramic and gourd matero cups should be rinsed with lukewarm water before the first brewing – we describe the exact process of preparing the gourd (curado) in the article about matero for yerba mate.

Yerba mate, like most plants from the holly family, originates from South America – you can find more about the botanical origin of the leaf (Ilex paraguariensis) on Wikipedia.