Mate Imperial Calabash Gourd. Our mates are made of calabash, leather wrapped and handcrafted by skilled artisans. This premium masterpiece features a meticulously carved ring top made from Alpaca(a fine alloy, renowned for its lustrous appearance and durability). It's vital to cure these gourds to seal the exposed pores to prevent mildew and cracking. Curing Stage: This gourd mate cup requires a simple curing process: First fill it with used yerba and leave it for 24 hs. After that, remove the yerba with a spoon and lightly scrape the interior. Finally let the mate dry and repeat the process for 3 days. Cleaning the mate: You need to wash it out with water and pat dry it with a cloth to prevent excess water from collecting in it. Don't store it upside down. You want to allow airflow while it's drying. After the initial curing stage, you no longer need to repeat the curing stage. We are proud to offer artisan-crafted, handmade products, created with care and love without the use of machinery. Each item is unique, reflecting the individuality of our artisans’ work. As a result, you may notice slight variations in welding, leather stitching, or gourd craftsmanship between items. These differences highlight the uniqueness of each piece, ensuring that no two products are identical.