Bombilla

 ( Yerba Mate ) 

A bombilla (Spanish language), bomba (Portuguese) or massasa (Arabic language) is a type of drinking straw, used to drink mate. In metal bombillas, the lower end is perforated and acts as a metal filter which is used to separate the mate infusion from leaves, stems, and other mate debris, and functions in a similar fashion to the perforated metal screen of a teapot. Filters can be removable and can be opened for cleaning, or they may be permanently fixed to the bombilla stem. Bombillas vary in length but a popular length is approximately long.

Traditional bombillas are made of metal such as an alloy of copper and nickel called alpaca silver or Nickel silver, stainless steel, and Silver standards which is used to construct the filter and stem, sometimes combined with a head. Low-end bombillas are made from hollow-stemmed cane. Silver bombillas are popular. In recent times, the traditional silver bombillas are being replaced by ones made from stainless steel.

Silver bombillas were used by the privileged classes, while those made of straw were used by people of lesser means. Due to the high thermal conductivity of silver, bombillas and gourds made of silver can get very hot fast, requiring caution when drinking hot mate tea to avoid burns.

(2025). 9780878467211, MFA Pub.. . ISBN 9780878467211

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Etymology The Spanish name "Bombilla" means literally "little pump".

(2025). 9780878467211, MFA Pub.. . ISBN 9780878467211

The Spanish term is also used for electric , bombilla eléctrica, being a diminutive of bomba.

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Gallery

for scale]]

and dictator of Paraguay, with a mate gourd and its respective bombilla]]

Categories: Yerba Mate

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