Got mate?

I promised that after the millionth time someone asked me 'what the heck is that you're drinking?', I was going to write down the response and have some printouts with me at all times... it has happened... but now all I have to do is hand out a business card and direct them to my blog ;-)

Mate and Yerba Mate
First of all, mate is more than a drink, mate is a cultural phenomenon. It's social role: intimacy and friendship.
Also, yerba mate is not tea, at least not in the strictest sense of the word.

An easy answer will be to describe it as the container that holds an infusion that argentines call...a mate. Confused ? Well, both the container and its drink carry the same name so whenever you ask for mate, you'll be given one...or both.

The little, hollow pumpkin, decorated sometimes with silver ornaments as if it were a piece of jewelry is actually much more than a drink for argentines. It is not only a social ritual, it is part of everyday's life for us.

In essence, it is a tea brewed from a plant grown in the northeast called yerba. This bitter green tea is obtained by adding hot water to leaves held in a seasoned gourd (the 'mate' container).

The mate will do several circuits before it is deemed washed out (lavado). Then, someone usually adds more leaves and starts a new round of mate (the drink). If you are still confused, then, I recommend that the best will be to try the experience yourself. In Argentina, there will be plenty of opportunities for this... if you can handle cooties that is... we actually share this thing... not for everyone.

The main point is that the thirst-quenching properties of this herb -said to help in weight loss control- are of secondary importance to its social role. Passing the mate around is a decorous ritual, a convivial part of life, not only in the countryside, but ANYWHERE in the city. Even in airplanes throughout a trip!! It is about intimacy and friendship

The gourd (mate) containing the brew is passed to each participant in a circle, who drains it through a metal straw (bombilla), before refilling it with hot water for the next participant.

Wikipedia definition for mate (beverage) and yerba mate.


Gracias Cuca por el mate!!!

And if you still don't get it, don't worry. My prediction is in the near future you will be able to get some at the drive-thru window of your local Starbucks @ around $3 bucks which is what I pay for 1kg (2.2lb) of Argentinian finest.

Oh, one more thing... it's completely legal ;-)