Mate is a type of tea, so you can drink it as you would any other tea. The traditional way to have it, a quite different however; the tea is usually brewed in a small personal container called “mate” and drunk through a straw called a “bombilla” which is made of metal or cane, The bombilla has a strainer at the end that stops the yerba from entering the straw. The mate is traditionally made of a dry gourd but nowadays you can find many different kinds of mates: glass, wood, metal or a combination of both wood and metal. Traditionally the dry gourd mate is often decorated and is considered an “art piece”; there are artisan shops dedicated specially to making them. Today, mate is also served as an ordinary tea in a cup. In the summer, you can have it cold and it is an ideal refreshing drink. In South America it is usually taken in its traditional form (that is in a mate container). To enjoy a good mate, these are the steps to follow: Fill the container (mate) with yerba mate half full, (or more or less to taste as you prefer - the more yerba - the stronger the taste. Note that the first time you brew the mate container should be prepared (see: How to prepare the mate container before the first use?). Insert the “bombilla” in the container, until it touches the bottom. Yerba mate leaves will surround the filter or strainer. Now, add hot water (70°-80° C), almost filling the container. There is no problem if some leaves are left dry with the first fill; eventually all the yerba leaves will be covered and used. Add sugar or mint leaves (fresh or dry) depending on your taste, (and you can prepare it with milk for kids, too). Fill it with water repeatedly until the taste of the yerba disappears. The taste of the first mate will be different, some say strange, with a slight bitter taste. But don’t be afraid to try it – it’s great! With time you will find your favorite taste (with or without sugar; mint; etc) as everybody does in South America. There are special recipes on this web site.. . How to prepare the mate container before the first use? Before the first use, you must fill it with mate and hot water, and leave it to rest for at least a day – 24 hours. This way the container – the Mate - will be cured and the natural material (wood or gourd) will be infused with the taste of the yerba. Then wash the container and it is ready to enjoy a good mate. Don’t forget that the wooden or gourd mates (containers) retain the taste in their pores, so you don’t need to follow this process if you have a glass or metal container.