Mate The Drink of a Nation: More than just a drink, its a way of being
December 2015
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In parks, in offices, on the bus, at the gym or at home one of the first things you'll notice about Argentines is that almost all of them drink mate (pronounced "Mah-TAY"). The iconic curvy shaped cup with an elegant metal straw emitting from its top is always near by. They constantly sip from this unconventional drinking device and Argentines do more than just drink mate, they live it. All throughout Argentina and many parts of Chile, Uruguay and Brazil, you'll find people gathered in plazas, parks and homes with a thermos and mate in hand passing away the afternoon in sociable relaxation. It is a way of being together.
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Mate vocabulary: Mate refers to the drink itself but more specifically to the gourd shaped receptacle used to drink mate. The most traditional type of cups are ones made from hooves, gourds or wood. The less traditional kinds are made from silver or a type of plastic composite and some of them can be quite beautiful like pieces of art. Yerba is the actual dried herb that gives the mate its flavor. The straw is called a bombilla and used to sip and filter the mate.
Drinking mate: Mate is typically shared among a group of people from the same cup, same straw, passed person to person. Why? Its all about the friendships and socializing. In terms of mate etiquette two points must be firmly made. First one must say "thank you" carefully because it indicates: "thank you, I don't want anymore mate" and could come across as being disrespectful. Second, never stir the mate with the straw, just sip. With these two things in mind any gringo can pass through their first mate experience with flying colors.
Drinking mate: Mate is typically shared among a group of people from the same cup, same straw, passed person to person. Why? Its all about the friendships and socializing. In terms of mate etiquette two points must be firmly made. First one must say "thank you" carefully because it indicates: "thank you, I don't want anymore mate" and could come across as being disrespectful. Second, never stir the mate with the straw, just sip. With these two things in mind any gringo can pass through their first mate experience with flying colors.
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What is mate anyway? The origins of mate lie deep in the interior of Argentina in a time before it existed as Argentina. The Guaranies Indians learned long ago that it was a great "pick me up" and when the conquistadors penetrated their forests in the 1500s they picked up the mate habit from the native peoples and has remained a revered cultural component for centuries.
Mate combines the stimulation of caffiene, the health benefits of tea and the euphoria of chocolate! Its actually not a tea but a blend of herbs made from dried leaves of the yerba mate plant (a species of holly plant) from the rain forests of South America. Its usually consumed with hot (not boiling) water and apparently contains 24 vitamins and minerals plus antioxidants. The taste is definately bitter and is something that one acquires a taste for over time. And though local residents will deny it, to an outsider it sure looks like they're obsessed - or addicted to mate.
Mate combines the stimulation of caffiene, the health benefits of tea and the euphoria of chocolate! Its actually not a tea but a blend of herbs made from dried leaves of the yerba mate plant (a species of holly plant) from the rain forests of South America. Its usually consumed with hot (not boiling) water and apparently contains 24 vitamins and minerals plus antioxidants. The taste is definately bitter and is something that one acquires a taste for over time. And though local residents will deny it, to an outsider it sure looks like they're obsessed - or addicted to mate.
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Though neither of us are fans of the mate drink itself, we are fans of our warm and welcoming experience with Argentines. So it seemed fitting that we purchase our very own mate cup as a reminder of the time we spent connecting with and understanding this unique culture.
There's no better way to wrap up the mate story than with quote we read recently summarizing: "Mate is both a great equalizer and a great social enabler and the prevailing Argentine philosophy is that everything is easier over mates!"
There's no better way to wrap up the mate story than with quote we read recently summarizing: "Mate is both a great equalizer and a great social enabler and the prevailing Argentine philosophy is that everything is easier over mates!"