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Buying guide: How to select the best mate thermos?

August 17, 2021

Time to read 4 min

The mate thermos is one of the essential accessories for enjoying a traditional mate in a gourd.

Obviously, it's possible to do without, but carrying your kettle around is quite an achievement!

To enhance your experience, investing in a thermos becomes essential.

So, what exactly is a mate thermos? What are the advantages and features of a mate thermos? How much should you invest in a quality, durable thermos?

SUMMARY

What is a mate thermos? The spout The carrying handle Quality mate thermoses Tempera mate thermoses Termolar mate thermoses Stanley mate thermoses Lumilagro mate thermoses Which is the best mate thermos? Verdict!

What is a mate thermos?

Having a thermos ensures that the water stays hot (or cold) for many hours.

One might think that any thermos would do. That's partly true, but those specifically designed for yerba mate have some essential features that make preparing the infusion easier . Let's look at the key elements that characterize a yerba mate thermos.

The spout

The differences between a mate thermos and a traditional thermos

The spout of a mate thermos is very different from what you usually find.

It has a double stopper action to limit the flow and thus aim as precisely as possible, without risking collapsing the well when you refill your calabash with water.

This spout is very practical for yerba mate but can quickly become a drawback if the thermos is poorly made. Indeed, many inexpensive yerba mate thermoses develop leaks at the spout over time. These leaks also reduce how long the water stays hot.

We will then look at the different thermoses that we have selected for their resistance and manufacturing quality!

The carrying handle

Unlike many thermoses, mate thermoses are designed for transport.

Mate has been culturally rooted in South America for generations; it is common to see someone with a mate kit (mate gourd, mate bombilla, yerba mate and thermos).

High-quality mate thermoses

Many special mate thermoses are available on the internet, unfortunately the vast majority of these are made cheaply in China and have a very limited lifespan .

In keeping with our company values, we have once again chosen to move away from these standard thermoses and select only the finest maté thermoses for you. We guarantee their durability and superior craftsmanship.

Tempera mate thermoses

Tempera is our own brand of thermos. Made from the finest materials, we have placed great emphasis on the quality, strength, performance, and durability of our thermos.

The Thermo Tempera® is a mate thermos that we are very proud to present to you.

This very high quality thermos, made from a double layer of 304 stainless steel, is highly valued for its great robustness as well as for one of the best thermal properties (keeps hot for 24 hours, cold for 30 hours and iced for 96 hours).

As the manufacturer, we guarantee them for 5 years !

The biggest advantage of this thermos is undoubtedly its lid, which can be transformed into a double-layered 304 stainless steel gourd ! This large-capacity gourd (240ml) will allow you to carry your mate equipment everywhere with you without any hassle.

The other key feature is undoubtedly its high-precision pourer with trigger, which allows for a stable flow, with a good flow rate and without jerking!

Key characteristics of Tempera :

Hot water retention: approximately 24 hours
Cold water storage: approximately 30 hours
Ice water preservation: approximately 96 hours
304 stainless steel, BPA-free
High-precision pourer with special trigger for maté
Height: 30 cm
Capacity: 1L
Price: €49

Termolar mate thermoses

Termolar is a Brazilian company specializing in mate thermoses since 1958.

These thermoses are renowned for their long period of heat retention (20h) or cold retention (36h).

Unfortunately, these are quite fragile thermoses, with frequent breakage of the handle, as well as at the spout.

The main characteristics of Termolar :

Hot water retention: approximately 20 hours
Cold water preservation: approximately 36 hours
A2 stainless steel, BPA-free
Pouring spout with double-action stopper, specially designed for maté.
Height: 29.4 cm
Capacity: 1L
Price: €59

Stanley mate thermoses

A Stanley thermos model

Stanley has also been a key player in the manufacture of insulated products since 1913. This American company specializes in long-term thermal storage for coffee. Their products keep drinks hot or cold for approximately 24 hours.

This difference in preservation stems from the brand's innovation: double-walled vacuum insulation.

Key features of Stanley products :

Hot water retention: approximately 24 hours
Cold water preservation: approximately 24 hours
304 stainless steel, BPA-free
Height: 35 cm
Capacity: 1L
Price: from €50

Lumilagro mate thermoses

Lumilagro is a company specializing in the manufacture of mate thermoses for over 80 years.

This Argentinian company stands out for the design of its insulated bottles as well as for their specificity in the consumption of mate, just like Termolar.

Key features of Lumilagro :

Hot water retention: approximately 12 hours
Cold water preservation: approximately 16 hours
304 stainless steel, BPA-free
Height: 34 cm
Capacity: 1L
Price: Not available in France

What is the best thermos for mate? The verdict!

After testing these four brands, we can conclude that they are all of high quality . Indeed, the thermal insulation is excellent.

However, we encountered some drawbacks during our tests:

Stanley gourds have the unusual feature of not having a spout specifically designed for yerba mate. This creates a major inconvenience when pouring water into the gourd. Controlling the flow is impossible, and we've often ended up overflowing the gourd...
Lumilagro thermoses don't have a handle. This handle is very useful for pouring water into the gourd and for carrying it. You therefore have to hold the thermos with your whole hand, or even with your other hand, which unfortunately makes this simple task a little more complicated.
As for the Termolar, the spout is present but less efficient than that of the Tempera thermos; sometimes jerks occur during pouring, which can be unpleasant. Also, the plastic handle, while very practical, seems quite fragile. The long-lasting heat retention is very effective.
The Tempera mate thermos is, for us, the ultimate choice. Its integrated gourd is undoubtedly its distinguishing feature. Its retractable handle, welded to the thermos , is also more durable. With its thermal insulation on par with the other three thermoses, we've found our gem !