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Erva Mate Barão de Cotegipe 500g – Authentic Gaucho Chimarrão in Europe

The Erva Mate Barão de Cotegipe is the absolute reference when it comes to chimarrão. Produced in the Barão de Cotegipe region of Rio Grande do Sul, this traditional yerba mate delivers everything a good chimarrão needs: intense herbal flavour, creamy foam and distinctive aroma.

With fine grinding and vacuum packaging, freshness is preserved from Brazil to your gourd in Europe.

Barão is the most beloved yerba mate brand in Rio Grande do Sul, with decades of tradition in the cultivation and processing of Ilex paraguariensis. Now available at Viva o Sabor with fast delivery to the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

What Is Yerba Mate and Chimarrão?

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is a plant native to South America, cultivated mainly in southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná and Santa Catarina), Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

The leaves and fine twigs are dried, crushed and processed to produce the herb used in various traditional beverages.

Chimarrão is the most popular way to consume yerba mate in southern Brazil: the herb is placed in a gourd (calabash or wooden container), compacted on one side, and hot water (not boiling, between 70 °C and 80 °C) is poured slowly.

The drink is sipped through a bomba (metal straw with filter at the tip). It is a ritual of togetherness — in the South, chimarrão is shared in a circle among friends and family.

Chimarrão is naturally rich in antioxidants, caffeine (mateine), B-complex vitamins and minerals, being considered an energising and thermogenic beverage.

In addition to chimarrão, yerba mate can also be consumed as tererê (chilled version, popular in Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraguay) or as mate cocido (infusion in hot water, like tea).

Why Choose Erva Mate Barão de Cotegipe?

• ✔️ Most beloved brand in Rio Grande do Sul — Barão de Cotegipe is the reference for yerba mate quality in Rio Grande do Sul.
• ✔️ Special blend — Combination of native and cultivated yerba mate groves from the Barão de Cotegipe region, ensuring balance between flavour and smoothness.
• ✔️ Fine grinding for chimarrão — Ideal texture to compact in the gourd and form the characteristic creamy foam of good chimarrão.
• ✔️ Rotary dryer drying — Process that gives more intense colour and slightly roasted and smoked flavour.
• ✔️ Vacuum packaging — Protects against moisture and oxidation, preserving freshness and aroma even after intercontinental transport.
• ✔️ No added sugar — 100% yerba mate leaves, no additives.
• ✔️ Naturally energising — Rich in caffeine (mateine), antioxidants and B-complex vitamins.

How to Prepare Chimarrão – Step by Step

1. Fill the gourd — Place yerba mate until it occupies about 2/3 of the gourd.
2. Tilt the herb — Cover the mouth of the gourd with your hand and tilt it at 45°, so that the herb is compacted on one side, forming a "wall".
3. Place the bomba — Position the bomba on the empty (lower) side, resting it against the herb wall. Do not move the bomba after positioning.
4. Pour warm water — First, pour a little warm water (not hot) on the empty side to hydrate the base of the herb. Wait for it to absorb.
5. Top up with hot water — Add water between 70 °C and 80 °C — never boiling, as it burns the herb and makes the chimarrão bitter.
6. Sip and refill — Drink until you hear a "gurgling" sound and refill with hot water. The same herb yields several gourds.

Tip: If you don't have a gourd and bomba, you can improvise with a thermal cup and a tea strainer. But for the complete experience, it's worth investing in traditional accessories.

Product Details

Note on nutritional information: In accordance with Brazilian legislation (RDC No. 360/2003), yerba mate without the addition of other ingredients is exempt from mandatory nutritional labelling.

Frequently Asked Questions About Yerba Mate and Chimarrão (FAQ)

What is chimarrão? Chimarrão is a traditional beverage from southern Brazil, made with finely ground yerba mate placed in a gourd (calabash container) and hot water, sipped through a bomba (metal straw with filter). It is a social and cultural ritual, shared in a circle among friends and family.

What is the difference between chimarrão and tererê? Chimarrão is prepared with hot water (70–80 °C) and finely ground yerba mate. Tererê uses iced water (or iced juice) and coarser ground yerba mate. Chimarrão is typical of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina; tererê is more popular in Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraguay.

What is the difference between Brazilian yerba mate and Argentine yerba mate? Brazilian yerba mate has very fine grinding (almost powder), intense green colour and forms creamy foam. Argentine yerba mate has coarser grinding, with visible twigs, and a more bitter and aged flavour. These are different products for different preparation methods.

Does yerba mate contain caffeine? Yes. Yerba mate contains caffeine (also called mateine), in a quantity similar to green tea. A gourd of chimarrão provides between 30 and 50 mg of caffeine per serving, making it a natural alternative to coffee.

Does yerba mate have health benefits? Yerba mate is rich in antioxidants (polyphenols), B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, iron, potassium and magnesium. Studies associate regular consumption with thermogenic effects, improved energy and anti-inflammatory properties. This does not constitute medical advice.

Do I need a gourd and bomba to drink chimarrão? The gourd and bomba are traditional accessories and provide the best experience. However, it is possible to improvise with a thermal cup and a tea strainer.

Where to buy yerba mate for chimarrão in the Netherlands? You can find Erva Mate Barão de Cotegipe at Viva o Sabor (vivaosabor.com), an online shop for Brazilian products with fast delivery to the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

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