Bombilla

A bombilla is a drinking straw with an integrated filter used to consume yerba mate, a traditional infusion popular in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and parts of southern Brazil. It is used in conjunction with a gourd-shaped vessel called a mate, into which hot water is repeatedly poured.

Design and materials vary, but most bombillas consist of a long tube with a perforated or mesh filter at the lower end. The filter prevents yerba leaves from being drawn up the straw. Common materials include stainless steel, although silver, brass, copper, and aluminum are also found. Some traditional or decorative versions may be made from wood, bone, or other materials. Straight and curved (bent) versions exist to accommodate different drinking styles and gourds.

In use, the bombilla is inserted into the yerba after the gourd is filled and the hot water is added. The drinker sips through the mouthpiece while the filter remains in the liquid. The water is typically hot but not boiling (around 70–85 °C), and the infusion is repeatedly renewed by refilling the gourd as others drink, a social practice known as cebar.

Maintenance is straightforward: rinse after use, remove debris, and occasionally scrub or boil to sanitize. Some users employ a small brush to clean the filter holes. Culturally, the bombilla is a central symbol of mate culture, with numerous designs and engravings reflecting regional and personal preferences. While primarily associated with yerba mate, the term bombilla may also appear in other Spanish contexts to denote a light bulb, though this article concerns the drinking implement.