Exclusive Yerba Mate Accessories Set — What’s Included and Is It Worth It?

You start with a mug from the kitchen and a straw from a juice carton, because the dried leaves have to go somewhere and you need something to drink with. Two weeks later it turns out the mug absorbs the smell, the plastic straw melts in hot water, and scooping yerba with a spoon ends with dried leaves scattered across the counter. That’s when most mate drinkers start buying accessories one by one — and usually end up paying more than if they’d gone for a complete set from the start.

What exactly is included in the set

The Set of exclusive Yerbador accessories contains the three items you need to brew yerba mate from day one: a matero, a bombilla and a yerbero (wooden scoop). You don’t need to look for anything else to get started — the dried leaves are bought separately, but the rest of the ritual is in the box.

Matero

A ceramic vessel in the classic, rounded shape known from South America. Ceramic doesn’t absorb the aromas of previous infusions (unlike a regular mug or an un-cured gourd) and is easy to clean daily. The manufacturer emphasises that the material is free from cadmium and molybdenum — this matters, since some cheaper, imported ceramic vessels don’t control for these metals.

Bombilla

A metal straw made of stainless steel, ending in a filtering “head” that strains out fine dried leaves. This way you sip a clean infusion, not the dregs. The bombilla’s profile is matched to the shape of the matero from the same set, so it sits in the vessel exactly as it should from the start — no need to bend it or look for a substitute.

Yerbero

A scoop made of natural beech wood — simply a yerba spoon shaped to let you scoop a portion of dried leaves without spilling it around the vessel. Beech wood is hard and doesn’t absorb moisture as easily as softer species, so the scoop keeps its shape for a long time.

A set or individual pieces — which pays off more

Let’s look at it using the shop’s real offer rather than guesswork. The decorated premium bombilla from the jewellery collection is sold separately. The exclusive ceramic matero is another separate purchase. Buying just those two items on their own, without the scoop, already costs more than the complete three-piece set. The difference comes from the fact that single, decorative variants (with a precious stone, in Christmas patterns) are treated as separate collector’s products, while the starter set has a simpler, more universal design — and that’s the cheaper way to begin.

If you only care about function rather than a specific design or decorative stone, the set is a cheaper way in. If you already know you want something more decorative as a gift — then the single, ornate variants make sense, despite the higher total price.

First brew with your new set

Unlike a traditional gourd, a ceramic matero doesn’t require a long “curado” (oiling and heating the walls) — just rinse it before first use. However, it’s worth setting the bombilla’s angle right away so the filter sits close to the bottom, otherwise dried leaves will get into the mouthpiece. You’ll find the full description of the brewing technique, the amount of dried leaves per serving and water temperature in a separate guide about the Yerba Mate matero — we’ve laid it out step by step there, so we won’t repeat it here.

One thing is specific to the bombilla in this set: rinse it immediately with warm water after each brew, before the dried leaves have a chance to dry inside the filter holes. Dried-on particles are much harder to rinse out than fresh ones, and taking the metal straw apart for brush cleaning isn’t needed here if you rinse it regularly.

Everyday care

Wash the matero by hand, with warm water, without a strongly scented detergent — ceramic can absorb it and pass it on to the next infusion. Rinse the bombilla under running water right after use, and every so often run water with a little baking soda through it if you notice buildup. The beech scoop just needs to be wiped with a dry cloth — soaking wood in water for too long shortens its lifespan, so it’s best to avoid that.

Who this makes a good gift for

This set works best as a first encounter with the yerba mate ritual — for someone who received dried leaves as a gift and needs the vessels to go with them, or for yourself, when you finally want to stop brewing yerba in an ordinary mug. It’s affordable enough to make a sensible gift without overspending, and at the same time the set looks elegant, not like a bundle of plastic gadgets.

Variants if you want something more

Below are two real products from the shop worth knowing about before you settle on the basic version.

Check out the whole set: Set of Exclusive Yerba Mate Accessories

Frequently asked questions

Can the matero from this set be washed in a dishwasher?

The manufacturer recommends hand washing. High temperatures and detergents in a dishwasher can, over time, dull the glaze and may damage the gilding or prints on the vessel’s wall.

Does the bombilla also fit other vessels, not just the matero from the set?

Yes, it’s a standard stainless steel bombilla — it fits most matero cups and mugs with a typical opening diameter. If you already have your own vessel, you can use it independently of the set.

How much dried leaves does this matero hold?

The vessel is a typical, medium size — enough for one serving for one person, filled according to the 2/3–3/4 capacity rule, as described in our brewing guide.

Won’t the beech wood scoop absorb the smell of the yerba?

Beech wood is dense and low-porosity, so the scent doesn’t sink into it the way it would with softer wood. Just store the scoop in a dry place, ideally close to the yerba mate packaging.

Is this a good first set for someone who has never tried yerba mate before?

Yes, that’s actually one of the reasons it was created in the first place — a set of three elements at a price lower than the sum of the individual, decorative variants, with no need to look for anything extra before your first brew.