Clogged bombilla: why it happens and how to fix it
Dusty yerba, a stirred bombilla or a dirty filter: causes and fixes.
You sip and nothing comes out, or only with effort. It happens a lot, and it can almost always be fixed.
Why it clogs
- Lots of dust: finely ground yerbas (Uruguayan, Brazilian) clog filters with large holes more easily.
- The bombilla was moved: stirring it pulls the dust from the bottom into the filter.
- The filter is dirty: bits of dried yerba build up in the tiny holes.
How to unclog it on the spot
- Don't stir it: scoop out a little yerba from the top and pour again, slowly.
- If it's still blocked, blow gently through the bombilla to clear the filter (on your turn, of course).
- As a last resort, pull it out, rinse it and set up the mate again.
So it doesn't happen again
- Shake the yerba before you start: cover the gourd with your hand, turn it upside down and shake, so the dust moves to the top where you can remove it.
- Insert the bombilla with your finger covering the top end, resting it against the wall of the gourd.
- If you drink dusty yerbas, use a bombilla with a spring filter or fine slots.
- Clean it often with hot water and a small brush.