How to Cure a Wooden Mate Cup?

First times stay in our hearts. Your first puppy, your first day of school… and, somewhere along the way, your first mate cup.

While ceramic, metal, and plastic cups are ready to use, gourds and wooden mates need to be cured before use. But here’s the thing: when a tradition is as deeply rooted as mate, there is never just one way to do it..

If you’ve wondered how to cure a mate wooden cup and found no single answer, you’re not alone. Wood is a living material: it breathes, it absorbs, and it must be treated with care.

In this article, we’ll go over the steps of two different methods for curing wooden mate cups. The kind of rituals we swear by at Gaucho Life, and that are shared from one generation to the next.

So, heat up the water and fill in your mate cup. Your first sip is just ahead.

Why Wooden Mate Cups Require Curing

Some people online may call it a TikTok or Reddit trend, but in truth, curing a mate is a much older practice, and an essential step for any proud owner of a wooden cup or gourd.

You might wonder why it’s needed at all, especially since wooden mates don’t have the inner membrane that a mate gourd has. Briefly, because curing helps extend the life of the cup and ensures the flavor of the yerba mate remains clean.

Excess moisture can cause the wood to swell unevenly and even crack. The curing process seals the pores, keeping water from soaking too deeply and protecting against leaks. If you use oil to cure the cup, it also nourishes the wood, making it more resilient to heat and daily use.

Curing also prevents bitter, raw wood flavor from dominating the mate and helps to develop a richer, more complex flavor over time. The yerba you choose and the liquid you moisten it with matter: variations are part of the tradition, as you’ll see.

If this is your first wooden mate cup, our advice is to keep it simple. Cure it with a little oil or fat, your favourite yerba, and water. Later, you can explore other ways. Some people like to cure it with whiskey or rum for bold notes, while others flavor their gourds with citrus or herbs for a gentler sweetness.

Pro tip n°1 → The perfect setting for brewing mate? Around a fire with friends, while a hearty asado sizzles on an Argentine Santa Maria grill.

How to Cure a Wooden Mate Cup, Step-by-Step

Over the years, we’ve gone over several wooden mate cups at Gaucho Life, but not as many as you might think… and curing has a thing or two to do with it. A well-prepared mate can last for years, even decades, carrying with it the memory of countless gatherings.

In this section, we’ll walk through how to prepare your first wooden mate cup for use. The process is simple, but it asks for patience. And as with most traditions, the waiting is part of the beauty.

Here’s how to cure a wooden mate cup in a traditional, proven way, step by step:

Rinse the cup gently, using only lukewarm water. Let it dry.
Apply a thin layer of animal fat, ghee, or vegetable oil (coconut and walnut work especially well) inside your wooden mate cup.
Let it rest overnight. The wood will absorb the grease, nourishing the grain and sealing it.
Fill the cup with yerba mate, ideally yerba that has already been used. This “sets” the mate to your preferred flavor, softening the raw wood taste.
Pour in warm water (165–185°F) until full. Let it sit for 24 hours. If the yerba absorbs all of the liquid in between, add a little more.
Discard the yerba mate and rinse the cup to remove the leaves. Don’t use any kind of soap, as it can cling to the wood and alter the flavor. Handle gently so you don’t scratch the inside.
Repeat steps 4-6 two more times to help the flavor settle.
After the last rinse, dry the mate cup on its side in a well-ventilated place. Let it rest for a couple of days before preparing your first mate.

That’s all it takes to cure your first wooden mate cup. Once it’s properly seasoned, the inside will feel smoother, it will absorb less liquid, and the taste will be rounder, with only a subtle touch of wood. As most Argentines will say, the best yerba mate cups are never truly cured until they have been used again and again!

Pro tip n°2→ If the inside of your cup darkens slightly or shows oil marks, don’t worry. That’s part of the seasoning process. True mate-related mold is white and fluffy; black or brown spots are usually yerba stains and mean the wood is seasoning well.

Curing a Wooden Cup for Sweet Mate (Mate Dulce)

Mate drinkers in Argentina aren’t really divided by the type of yerba or the cup they use, but rather by one simple question: do you take it sweet, or do you take it bitter?

Sweeteners cling to porous materials, so if you prepare sweet mate in a wooden cup, it’s best to dedicate it only to sugar-based brews. Otherwise, be warned: someone who loves mate amargo (unsweetened, bitter mate) may not be too happy with the surprise.

Seasoning a wooden mate cup for sugar-based brews is as simple as curing it for bitter ones. Here are the steps that we follow at Gaucho Life:

Rinse the cup gently with lukewarm water and let it dry.
Coat the inside of the mate with 1–2 teaspoons of sugar or honey.
Fill the cup with yerba mate. If you fancy a citric note, add some dried citrus peel.
Soak the yerba with warm water (165–185°F). Let it sit for 24 hours.
Discard the yerba mate and rinse the cup carefully.
Repeat steps 3-5 once more. Let the cup dry completely before brewing.

Pro tip n°3→ Some people use embers to heat their wooden mate cups while curing, to help he sugar or fat absorb better. This is a valid approach, but we don’t recommend it, as the wood can get easily damaged.

Used Yerba or Fresh?

Chances are that the wooden mate cup you’re reading this article for is also your very first mate, and that you don’t yet have heaps of used yerba leaves lying around. There’s no need to panic: wooden cups and gourds can be cured with fresh yerba mate as well.

Yerba mate is typically reused for curing cups, as a more traditional and sustainable approach. The greatest advantage of this is that it transfers the same yerba flavor you’re used to, ensuring a clean aftertaste.

Using new yerba, on the other hand, provides a more tannin-rich experience, impregnating the wood with flavor more strongly. It can also accelerate the curing process, though it will still take at least two full days.

If you already drink mate regularly, you’ll likely have plenty of used leaves. Store them in a container for a few days (checking carefully for mold) and use them for curing or use them after you finish drinking mate.

But if you’re starting from scratch, the best approach is simple: buy a yerba mate you’ve already tasted and enjoyed, and use it to cure your new wooden mate cup. That way, the flavor profile will suit you from the very first sip.

Pro tip n°4→ Yerba mate packages aren’t always the easiest to carry around. A small yerba mate container lets you take just the right amount for your cup (plus a refill) so you can enjoy mate wherever you go.

Long-Term Care of Your Wooden Mate Cup

Curing your mate cup is only half the journey toward clean flavor and a long life. The other half is caring for it properly. Here are some simple practices to follow:

Don’t leave your cup filled with yerba overnight once it’s cured. Rinse and dry it completely after each use to prevent mold.
Store the cup upside down or on its side in a ventilated place. This keeps moisture from lingering and protects the wood against cracks.
Clean only with lukewarm water. Soap can cling to the wood and alter the flavor, while very hot water risks cracking the cup through sudden temperature changes.
Avoid exposing decorative elements (like leather or engravings) to prolonged humidity.
For a clean flavor, rinse your yerba mate drinking straw (bombilla) after every use to clear out yerba leaves. Also, soak it regularly in water with baking soda to remove sediment buildup.

Following these habits will help you keep your wooden mate cup mold-free and ensure every brew tastes clean. One last piece of advice? Lower the odds of cracks by carrying your mate set in a matera bag, a sturdy leather or canvas bag made to hold everything together, a thermos included, while protecting your cup on the go.

FAQs

Still curious about how to cure a mate gourd? Here are the answers to some of the most common questions we hear. If yours isn’t listed, feel free to reach out. Mate is a tradition meant to be shared!

Can I use the same cup for sweet and bitter mate?

No, you can’t use the same wooden cup or gourd for sweet and bitter mate. Once seasoned for sweet mate, the wood retains that flavor, and every brew will taste sweetened, much to the dismay of those who prefer mate amargo (bitter mate).

How do I know my wooden cup is properly cured?

A well-cured mate feels smooth inside and doesn’t soak up as much liquid. The taste will also shift: instead of raw wood or sharp bitterness, the brew will feel rounder and more balanced.

Can I use soap or disinfectants?

Never use disinfectants or soap on wooden mate cups: they can cling to the wood and leave a chemical aftertaste. Lukewarm water is all you need for daily cleaning.

Is mold on the surface dangerous?

Yes, mold can be harmful if left unchecked. It usually appears as white, fluffy patches. If you see it on your wooden cup or gourd, scrape it off, rinse with hot water, and let it dry completely in the sun before curing it again.

Is this the same as curing a gourd?

Not exactly. While both need curing, the process differs. If you’re curious, check our separate guide on how to cure a mate gourd.

A Bond of Taste, One Sip at a Time

Nothing screams “Argentina” as much as mate and, perhaps, a gaucho grill. Curing a wooden mate cup or gourd to use it for the first time is not just a step; it’s the beginning of a relationship between a person and their mate. In other words: the relationship of a lifetime.

All it takes to start your mate journey is a single sip. The next step? Assembling your perfect Argentinian mate set, with tools and rituals that will accompany you through countless gatherings, quiet mornings, and shared moments with friends.

Explore our yerba mate collections to find your perfect match and create your own tradition, rooted in millennia-old heritage. Because at Gaucho Life, we know mate is more than a trend. It´s a lifestyle.