Many of us have a favorite drink. Some love coffee, some like tea, and others enjoy smoothies, juices, shakes, or other refreshing beverages. But in South America, that honor goes to yerba mate.
In Argentina, locals don’t just sip on this fusion of coffee and tea. Drinking yerba mate has become a significant part of Argentine culture and daily life, bringing people together, even if only for a while. Today, we’ll explain what this traditional drink is, how it’s prepared, and how it fosters community, especially during important celebrations.
A Closer Look at Yerba Mate & Its Origins
“Coffee or tea?” is something you may ask when it comes to yerba mate. The drink mixes tea’s unique flavor with caffeine, although it falls between the two.
Yerba mate’s distinctive taste comes from the Ilex paraguariensis plant. The Guaraní people in Paraguay discovered this plant and cultivated it, using the leaves and twigs to dry and then soak in hot water. It’s said that the Guarani drank yerba mate to boost their energy, improve concentration, and aid in healing.
The tradition carried over to Spanish settlers in South America. Upon seeing the locals drinking mate and discovering the beverage’s stimulating properties, the conquistadors told others everything about the plant. In the northern region, the Jesuits cultivated the plant and served it after their daily services. They would drink mate together with music and dancing in the background.
Mate then made its way to Argentina, where gauchos (cowboys) adopted the Guaraní’s drinking ritual. As these nomadic people traveled through the Pampas, they’d drink yerba mate for a jolt of alertness and vitality. The beverage has become a part of Argentine heritage since then.
Today, yerba mate is produced in the provinces of Misiones and Corrientes. The subtropical climate and soils in both areas help the yerba plant grow.
Does Yerba Mate Offer Health Benefits?
Yerba mate offers several potential health benefits. According to Healthline, drinking mate can:
-Nourish your body with a variety of antioxidants and nutrients.
-Make you more energetic.
-Help you focus better.
-Enhance your physical performance. Research suggests that the caffeine in yerba mate can improve muscle contractions, reduce fatigue, and -enhance sports performance.
-Prevent infections.
-Help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
-Reduce blood sugar levels.
-Lower your risk of developing heart disease.
Your Must-Haves for Enjoying Yerba Mate
To enjoy yerba mate, you’ll need a dried gourd (mate), a metallic straw (bombilla), and a thermos filled with hot water. Many Argentinians take all three with them, storing them in special bags called materos. These bags hold the gourd, thermos, yerba, and sugar.
The best yerba mate gourds are usually made from pumpkin (calabazza) or wood for a better-tasting drink. However, some use ceramic ones. Gourds vary by size and color, with images of nature, animals, and traditional symbols carved onto them. Artisans make these detailed, symbolic designs through engraving, pyrography, and other artistic techniques.
As for the metallic straws, they can be made from materials such as silver, stainless steel, and bamboo.
Argentina’s Yerba Mate Drinking Ritual at a Glance
Yerba mate is meant to be shared with others. Walk around one of Argentina’s towns or cities, and you just might see people sip on mate in parks or on benches. Locals sit in a circle, passing a yerba mate gourd among each other. This symbolizes trust, equality, and hospitality.
The yerba mate drinking ritual also needs a cebador or server. Whenever this person pours and shares mate with the other people in the circle, they show love and dedication. The server shouldn’t be changed during the ritual, a rule emphasized by the saying, “Mate that changes hands is ruined.” In other words, only one person must serve the drink throughout the ritual.
Preparing Yerba Mate: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you want to try yerba mate, here’s how to prepare this unique infusion.
