This is a good example of a high quality and traditional mate cup. The carving on the alpaca & gold is awesome.

The most traditional way to drink yerba mate is like the Indians did - from a cup (gourd) and straw (bombilla). Genuine mate drinkers say a well "cured" mate contributes to the good taste of the drink. Also by using the cup and straw it forcibly removes far more of the valuable nutrients which yerba mate has to offer. Other methods do not. You will need to try your own combination of cups and straws as yerba mate will taste differently in each type. Each person must experiment to find which best suits his taste !

Yerba Mate cups can be made from many different types of material. These include the natural gourd, wood, horns, ceramic, glass or metal.

Click here to learn more about Yerba Mate Gourds

How do I CURE my Yerba Mate Gourd?