Bombilla (pronounced bom-BEE-yah) is a traditional drinking straw used primarily in South American countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and parts of Brazil for consuming yerba mate—a caffeinated herbal infusion made from the leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. The bombilla serves a dual purpose: it functions both as a straw for sipping the liquid and as a filter to prevent the yerba mate leaves from entering the mouth.
Design and Structure
- Material: Bombillas are typically made from metals such as stainless steel, silver, or alpaca (a type of nickel silver). Some are crafted from bamboo or other woods.
- Components:
- Mouthpiece: The end you sip from, sometimes designed with cooling rings to dissipate heat.
- Shaft: The elongated middle section.
- Filter End: The bottom part submerged in the yerba mate, featuring a bulbous or flattened shape with small perforations or slits to act as a sieve.