Traditional mate vs. tea bags: conscious enjoyment in everyday life

Sustainability often begins with small decisions – even in your cup. Those in Germany who are used to quickly reaching for a tea bag will discover a resource-saving alternative with the traditional preparation of mate. Here's a direct comparison.

1) Packaging & Reusability

Tea bags: bags, threads, clips and outer packaging – practical, but mostly disposable.
Traditional mate: Yerba comes loose (often in bulk). The cup and bombilla are reusable – significantly less packaging waste.

2) Waste & Resources

Tea bags: Each cup generates residual waste; many bags are only partially compostable.
Mate: Multiple infusions with the same leaves – less waste per cup and more efficient use of raw materials.

3) Taste & Ritual

Tea bags: Quick and convenient, often rather mild.
Mate: Ritual & Controllability – Strength and aroma vary over several infusions: from strong to mild.

4) Flexibility in everyday life

Tea bags: Ideal when you need something ultra-fast.
Mate: Hot or cold (Tereré), at home, in the office or on the go with a thermos – flexible and sociable .

5) Costs over time

Tea bags: Continuous repurchases.
Mate: Invest once (cup + bombilla), then enjoy many cups per filling – often cheaper per cup.

6) Sustainability of the mate cup

Mate cups made of gourd, wood, metal, or ceramic are durable products. With proper care, they last for years ; no single-use plastic is produced. Materials like gourd/wood develop a patina instead of becoming waste, while metal/ceramic are robust and often repairable or replaceable (a new bombilla instead of a new cup).

7) Versatile use – not just for mate

The mate gourd is a universal tea cup for loose teas : green tea, herbal and fruit teas, oolong – it works with everything. With the bombilla (a type of straw), there's no need for a tea bag, and the zero-waste principle remains. This way, you combine tradition with a modern, low-waste tea culture.

Fair remains fair.

Tea bags have their place: on the go, in hotels, when you're in a real hurry. But for those who want to reduce waste, vary their taste, and experience a bit of tradition, preparing mate offers a compelling alternative.

In conclusion: Traditional mate is a reusable system instead of disposable – less packaging, less waste, more flavor, and more uses. Try making the switch in your daily life: a sustainable step that feels good and tastes good.