Yerba Mate Glossary - A Beginner's Guide

Yerba mate has an entire language of its own. It describes the roles of the various participants in the cup-sharing ceremony and the different ways of drinking the yerba. Here are some of the main words used.

Amargo

Unsweetened

Bomba

The straw used to drink yerba mate in the cup-sharing ceremony. This has a bulbous end with holes in which filters out the leaves and twigs. Portuguese - cuia.

Bombilla

Diminutive of bomba – "little straw".

Cebador

The brewer/server of yerba mate in the cup-sharing ceremony.

Graçias

Thank you. This has the force of “No, thank you” and is never said during the cup-sharing ceremony until the drinker has had enough and wishes to politely refuse another cup.

Dulce

Sweet (with sugar). Adding sugar is held to ruin a porous gourd so many families keep a separate gourd for yerba mate dulce.

Lavado

Lit. washed. This describes yerba mate that has been re-filled with hot water so many times (perhaps 10-12) that all the flavour and goodness has been washed out of it.

Mancha

A stand of wild trees.

Mate

Pronounced mah-tay. The cup or gourd. From the native Quechua mati meaning cup.

Suave

Soft – used of mate with a less strong flavour.

Tarrafeiros

Gatherers of wild Yerba Mate (see also yerbateros).

Yerba

Grass, herb. Also hierba. Pronounced "yerba" or "jerba" in different regions.

Yerbateros

Gatherers of wild Yerba Mate (see also tarrafeiros).

Yuyitos

Herbs, which are sometimes added to the drink for medicinal purposes or for their flavour.

Yerba Mate

Literally “herb cup”. Portuguese - erva mate.

So next time you drink Yerba Mate with your friends, you can be confident that you are talking the right language!