How does a round of mate work in Argentina and Uruguay?
One person, the cebador, fills the gourd with yerba and hot (never boiling) water and passes it; each person drinks the whole gourd and hands it back, the cebador adds water and passes it to the next, and nobody moves the bombilla. You only say gracias when you have had enough: it means stop.
How a round works
- cebar The cebador prepares it One person fills the gourd with yerba and water that is hot, never boiling: boiling water burns the leaves.
- pasar It goes to the first person They drink it all and hand it back.
- devolver Back to the cebador The cebador adds more water and passes it to the next person. Nobody moves the bombilla.
- la siguiente Round the circle The same gourd and straw go round everyone, in order.
- gracias Thank you means stop You do not say gracias when you hand it back, unless you have had enough: the cebador then stops serving you.
- The water must be hot but never boiling.
- One person, the cebador, prepares and serves; each person drinks the whole gourd and returns it; nobody moves the bombilla.
- Saying gracias means you do not want any more.
El agua tiene que estar caliente, pero nunca hirviendo.The water has to be hot, but never boiling.
El cebador lo pasa a la primera persona, que lo bebe todo y lo devuelve.The cebador passes it to the first person, who drinks it all and gives it back.
Nunca se mueve la bombilla, y no se dice gracias.You never move the bombilla, and you do not say thank you.
More about Mate
- What is the difference between mate and tereré?
- Where does yerba mate come from?
- What are the Spanish words for the parts of a mate?
- Mate