The rules of the round: how to share a mate

Who serves, why you never stir the bombilla and what saying «thank you» really means.

Sharing a mate comes with rules nobody ever wrote down, but almost everyone knows. If it's your first round, here are the basics.

The server is in charge

One person serves (the cebador): fills the mate, pours the water and hands it to each person, always in the same order. The server usually drinks the first one, to check that it's good.

Drink it all

When you're handed the mate, drink it until it makes a slurping sound and give it back to the server. Don't keep chatting with the mate in your hand: everyone else is waiting for their turn.

Don't touch the bombilla

Stirring it breaks up the yerba, washes out the flavor and can clog the straw. If something's off, tell the server.

"Thank you" means you're done

Saying thank you when you hand back the mate means you don't want any more. If you want to stay in the round, give it back without saying anything (or with a smile).

Don't criticize someone else's mate

Whether it's weak, sweet or bitter, it's the server's mate. If you'd do it differently, serve the next round yourself.