Vessel for Yerba Mate – Ceramic, Thermos or Gourd? Prices and FAQ
2022-07-26
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If you’re wondering which matero/vessel to choose, our article will surely help you. At the beginning of your yerba mate journey, it’s hard to know what to expect from a vessel, what it should look like, what properties it should have, or, above all, how to use it.
A yerba mate vessel should be practical and well suited to a particular type of dried leaves as well as to a particular bombilla. In our roundup we present the most popular vessels for brewing yerba mate, and we’ll also try to describe both the advantages and disadvantages of specific vessels—read on. We also encourage you to read our other articles about yerba mate, as they may come in handy at the start of your yerba mate connoisseur journey 🙂
The Most Popular Vessels for Yerba Mate
- Wooden vessels – These are recommended for people who drink TERERE more often than warm yerba mate (you can find more information about terere on our blog). They definitely attract attention with their natural look—similar vessels were already used by the Paraguayan Indians to drink yerba mate—however, they’re not among the most convenient to use. This vessel isn’t particularly suited to drinking a hot-brewed infusion, as the hot infusion can damage the vessel (they often crack). Before preparing an infusion in a wooden vessel, you need to perform a ritual called CURRADO, which involves filling the vessel with infusion and leaving it for a full day so the vessel softens (during this process the vessel may leak); after this time, the infusion slightly soaks into the wood, and its remains should be removed from the vessel. This is definitely a vessel chosen by yerba mate connoisseurs, as it adds an interesting aroma to the infusion, although it’s not the most hygienic or simplest way to brew yerba mate.
- Palo Santo – Freely translated, it means “Holy Wood”, and it’s called that because when the wood cracks, the tree releases resin that fills the cracked spots. This type of vessel usually doesn’t absorb odours, so you can brew different types of yerba in it without worrying about mixing two different aromas. For many people, a clear downside may be that such a vessel should dry very slowly or stay moist at all times. Many Palo Santo vessels are reinforced with metal, which greatly reduces damage, cracks or dents. This vessel is also recommended for true yerba mate connoisseurs, as caring for it is quite unusual and sometimes time-consuming.
- Guampa Vessel – This is a vessel made from a bull’s horn, hide or hoof. It looks very elegant and sometimes serves only a decorative function, so it can make a perfect gift for a real yerba mate connoisseur. This vessel is intended solely for drinking cold yerba mate (terere), as contact with warm water can significantly worsen the taste of the infusion and later cause an unpleasant smell.
- Matero Made from a Gourd – The gourd is one of the most popular types of yerba mate vessels, featuring a wide body that narrows towards the top into a so-called neck. This vessel is made from the lower part of the gourd fruit. It is often very demanding in terms of care. You need to take special care of it, as it is even more prone to cracking – inadequate care can lead to mould growing inside the vessel, making it unusable. Before each brewing, the vessel should be completely dry, and it also requires the currado ritual we described above. In this case, the ritual should be performed to get rid of dried gourd residue, which sometimes has a strong laxative effect.
- Yerbamos – This is simply a thermos for yerba mate. It consists of a metal vessel with a built-in bombilla. It’s a great solution for drinking yerba for people who, during sports activities, prefer to drink a yerba mate infusion instead of water. It can be used both for a warm brew of holly leaves and for its cold version, Terere. The only downside may be the fact that in most vessels of this type, the bombilla is permanently attached, which can make it quite difficult to clean.
- Ceramic Vessel – This is the most commonly chosen and most cost-effective vessel for beginners. It works perfectly with every type of yerba mate, as it doesn’t absorb the flavour and aroma of the infusion. It’s easy and practical to use – after drinking, you simply wash it like a regular cup or glass. You can drink both cold-brewed and warm-brewed yerba mate in it, as this vessel is resistant to high temperatures. Among all vessels, it’s the best in terms of hygiene, as it can be washed with dish soap. It’s very comfortable to hold, and thanks to its shape narrowing towards the top, it retains the heat of the infusion better.
In our opinion, the best vessel is a ceramic one (available in our store yerbador.com). Thanks to its handiness, convenience and, above all, easy care, we offer you a top-class ceramic vessel (handmade) in an elegant, glossy bottle-green colour with a matte gold logo of our company. Our vessel pairs perfectly with the other products from our shop, together forming the ideal starter Set for anyone interested in the wonderful properties of yerba mate from YERBADOR.
We already encourage you to buy our set, which includes the ceramic vessel described above. In the near future, our unique yerba mate vessels will also be available for individual retail purchase!
Summary
We believe that for starting your yerba mate adventure, the best choice for you will be a ceramic vessel (currently available in the gift set on yerbador.com). It doesn’t require any particularly unusual or demanding care — anyone should be able to manage it — and it also helps maintain hygiene, so the flavour of the infusion remains unspoiled while drinking. Made of thick ceramic, it is less prone to damage, and it also pairs perfectly with the bombilla offered by our company. If you value comfort and an aesthetic look while drinking your infusion of dried holly leaves — a ceramic vessel will be perfect!
Ceramic, gourd, glass or steel — what are you actually looking for?
Before you move on to our sets, it’s worth establishing one thing: a “yerba mate vessel” is, in practice, four completely different items, each answering a different need. If you care about convenience and the smallest possible number of care rituals — look towards ceramic. If you’re after the most traditional experience and don’t mind a one-time curado ritual — gourd and wood make a real difference in aroma. We’ve laid out a full comparison of the pros, cons and care of ceramic, gourd and wood step by step in a separate guide: Matero for Yerba Mate – ceramic, gourd or wood? Here, we’ll focus on two things that guide doesn’t cover: steel vessels (thermoses) and how to choose the right size and price for your needs.
Ceramic vessel — why it’s the most commonly chosen option to start with
One thing is clear from our conversations with customers: people who are just starting out with yerba almost always ask about ceramic first. The reason is simple — you don’t have to soak it, cure it or dry it upside down. You wash it, dry it, brew. Our Ceramic Matero Yerbador PRO 2 in Emerald Green is thick, hand-glazed ceramic free from lead, cadmium and molybdenum — that is, free from the metals that can be a problem in cheaper, untested market-stall vessels. The PRO 2 range also includes Pearl White, Onyx Black, Desert Beige and Ocean Blue, so you can match the vessel to your kitchen or desk, not just to tradition.
Ceramic doesn’t absorb odours, so one day you can brew classic yerba mate, and the next a flavoured Guarana or Slim Fit, and none of the aromas will linger “in the walls” — that’s a practical advantage over wood and gourd that’s often overlooked on a first purchase.
Thermos — a yerba mate vessel that travels with you
There is also a fourth category that classic guides to the matero rarely mention: a vessel for drinking yerba away from home. Our Yerbador Thermos solves exactly that problem — it isn’t an ordinary coffee flask with a straw stuck on, but a vessel designed around the specific physics of brewing yerba: it has a built-in spring filter that separates the leaves from the drink, so you sip through the straw just as you would from a traditional matero with a bombilla, only without the risk of spilling it in the car or in your backpack.
The double-wall stainless steel construction (BPA-free) keeps the temperature stable long enough that the infusion tastes the same at 8:00 with your first cup as it does at 11:00 in the office — and in summer the same vessel works just as well for the cold version, terere. The thick walls and stable base mean it stands firmly on a dashboard or desk, so if your main problem isn’t choosing a material but the fact that your yerba mate cools before you finish it — this is the answer, not another gourd.
What size vessel should you choose and how much dried leaves to add?
There’s no room for guessing here — we’ve covered it in our brewing guide, and we stick to the same rule across all the vessels we sell: fill the vessel with dried leaves to about 2/3–3/4 of its capacity, no less. Too little dried leaves means a quickly washed-out, watery infusion after the second or third refill of water. A standard matero — whether ceramic or a traditional gourd — is enough for one filling of dried leaves, which you can top up with water several times and enjoy calmly for an hour or two. Thanks to its larger capacity and thermal insulation, the thermos lets you stretch the same logic over an entire morning on the go, without needing to reheat water along the way.
If you’re just starting out and aren’t sure whether your vessel is the right size for the bombilla you already have — check out our guide on caring for Yerba Mate accessories, where we also cover choosing the right bombilla for a specific vessel.
How much does a Yerba Mate vessel cost? Real prices
- Ceramic Matero PRO 2 (5 colours) — check the current price.
- Starter set (matero + bombilla + dried leaves + beech wood scoop) — check the current price.
- Stainless steel travel thermos — now on sale, check the current price.
- Gift set (tube + matero + bombilla + scoop) — check the current price.
If you’re buying your first vessel “to try it out”, a starter set is usually cheaper than buying the matero, bombilla and dried leaves separately — and if you already know that yerba mate is here to stay, a thermos and a ceramic set in a nice colour work well as complementary purchases, not competing ones.
Yerba Mate vessels for businesses and venues
Are you setting up a café, an office, or looking for vessels and sets as gifts for employees or clients? We fulfil bulk orders — ceramic matero, thermoses and dried leaves in a single delivery, with a discount depending on volume.
FAQ — Yerba Mate vessels
Can you drink yerba mate from a regular mug?
Yes, the taste won’t change dramatically — but without a vessel with the right shape and a bombilla, you’ll have to strain the leaves or drink them along with the infusion. If you’re starting out with a mug, we have a separate guide: how to brew yerba mate in a mug.
Which vessel is best to start with — ceramic or a gourd?
Ceramic. Zero maintenance to start, neutral for the flavour, and available in colours that are easy to match to your kitchen style. It’s worth considering a gourd once you know yerba mate is here to stay and you want a more traditional, deeper aroma.
Do you need a different vessel for terere (cold yerba mate)?
It doesn’t have to be different — the same matero or thermos works both for hot and cold. The only difference is the water temperature, not the type of vessel.
Does every vessel fit every bombilla?
Not always — narrower ceramic vessels require a shorter bombilla, while wider ones (like some gourd models) work better with a longer one. Our starter sets already have well-matched proportions, so if you’re buying separately, pay attention to the length of the bombilla relative to the height of the vessel.
How do you wash a ceramic vessel after yerba mate?
With warm water, no detergent — ceramic itself doesn’t absorb odours, so a “dry” wash with water is usually enough. Dry it thoroughly before the next brew to avoid a musty smell.
Discover our sets!
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1 x Yerbador Yerba Mate Gift Set – Tube
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3 x Doypack Yerba Mate from Yerbador + 1 Doypack Free!
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Yerba Mate Yerbador – HEALTH PACK 3 + 1
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Yerba Mate Yerbador – FLAVOUR MIX PACK 3 + 1
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2 x Yerba Mate Yerbador Gift Set + 1 Doypack FREE
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2 x Gift Set with Doypack Yerba Mate Yerbador + 1 Doypack
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4 x Doypack Yerba Mate + 1 GIFT SET Free!
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3 x Yerba Mate Gift Set from Yerbador + 1 free!
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5 x Doypack Yerba Mate from Yerbador + 2 Doypack Free!
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Yerba Mate Yerbador – PREMIUM SET 6 + 3
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8x Doypack Yerba Mate MIX + Gift set free!
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Flavours that awaken a passion for life!
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Yerbador Mate – SLIM FIT
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Yerbador Mate – HERBAL DETOX
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Yerbador Mate – GUARANA ACTIVE ENERGY SHOT
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Yerba Mate Yerbador – HEALTH PACK 3 + 1
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Yerbador Mate – TROPICAL FRUITS
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Yerbador Mate – FOREST FRUITS
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Yerbador Mate – CITRUS FRUITS
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Yerba Mate Yerbador – PREMIUM SET 6 + 3
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Yerba Mate Yerbador – FLAVOUR MIX PACK 3 + 1
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Yerbador Mate – GINGER IMMUNITY
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