The classic calabash gourd in the famous torpedo style! Each mate is carefully wrapped in leather (brown or black), sown together, and topped with a sleek stainless steel rim. Easily recognized across Uruguay, and famous footballers, torpedoes are a must-have in everyone’s collection.
It’s recommended you cure your gourd before use. (The size and shape of each gourd varies from the pictures shown as no two gourds are the same – some are larger, some are smaller. Color may also slightly vary. Small blemishes on the leather and calabash itself are normal.)
Dimensions: (approx.) 3.5 x 4.0 inches
ruben50 (verified owner) –
I really like the torpedo-shaped mates—they’re easy to pack, fit perfectly in standard vehicle cupholders, and the leatherwork is well done. They’re also the perfect size to hold enough Uruguayan yerba to last through about 1.5 liters of water. The YML BALA is one of my favorite travel mates whenever I’m on the road for work.
The only thing I recommend is making sure the curing is properly done before use. This one had quite a bit of plant material inside, but nothing a little elbow grease and a quick fire cure with some Scotch couldn’t fix.
Yerba Mate Lab Team –
Thanks for taking the time to give us your feedback Ruben! Sorry to hear about the extra plant material, most of the BALAs tend to have less. But we’re happy to hear it’s worthy of being on your travels!