Cebando maté

Cebando maté in Lithuania is very different from cebando in Argentina. Of course the people here have not had the years of practice to know the "rules" of maté. What are they exactly? Funny you should ask...

Do not...

1. Take the bombilla (metal straw) out of the maté to look at it. This will only cause little sticks to go up the straw. Also, it is hard to put the straw back, making it close to impossible to finish all of the liquid.
   
2. Blow on the bombilla. Air will not get down the straw to cool down the liquid. This is rude and in non-verbal language tells me that you have a problem with me.
   
3. Wait for it to cool. If you do other people won't get a chance to try maté. Also, by the time it cools it will be too strong to enjoy. It´s not my fault you can´t stand boiling hot water.
   
4. Complain about how hot it is. Who likes luke-warm water? Yuck.
5. Pass on the maté only half finished. I made it for you...not your neighbor.
6. Say thank-you unless you really are finished.

First photo, my roommate Oleg from Belarus. Second of his girlfriend Natasha from Moldova. Third is of Natasha´s mom Sveta, who was visiting. I made it clear to them that I do not hold them to my rules. I guess they thought my matés tasted like grass. They might be right. ;)