A bombilla is a type of drinking straw, used to drink maté teas. In metal bombillas, the lower end is perforated and acts as a metal filter, which is used to separate the maté infusion from leaves, stems, and other maté debris, and functions in a similar fashion to the perforated metal screen of a teapot. Filters can be removable and can be opened for cleaning, or they may be permanently fixed to the bombilla stem. Bombillas vary in length but a popular length is approximately 7 inches long.
