Mate means friendship.
By Sabina Wrightsman
Mate, pronounced ‘mah-tay’, is a tea made from the South American yerba mate plant. Most of these yerba plants grow in South America, mainly in Argentina, some spread into Paraguay and Brazil. The yerba leaves and stems are harvested, then blanched, dried, aged, and finally cut into small pieces to be used for tea by adding hot water. The tea is traditionally consumed in a gourd with a metal straw, called ‘Bombilla’ in Spanish, and passed around among friends. It is a social event to drink mate, you hardly ever drink it alone. It is like a ritual among friends and workers as you share the same gourd and metal straw when drinking. It is said to give everybody energy. It also has a delicious, bold flavor. Mate has almost as much caffeine as coffee, but with the feel good chemicals of both tea and coffee.
Argentina is a beautiful country: it has high mountains, the Andes, with glacial lakes, Pampas grassland with Gouchos, famous steak, tango and soccer. There are many museums and attractions. It has something for everyone. Since it is in the southern hemisphere, you can go skiing in summer in Bariloche, one of the famous sky area in the Andes.
Argentinians are very sociable people, proud of their country and enjoy tourists visiting it. The mate tea ritual shows this. Since mate is such a social drink, it is perfect for any tourist to mingle with locals and practice speaking Spanish.
Before visiting any country, it is always a good idea to research that country and to learn as much about their customs and language as possible. If you want to refresh your Spanish and are planning to visit South America, we suggest you include Argentina. Meeting locals is easier with a gourd of mate in your hand or by asking any local about mate and its many benefits. Research seems to be divided, but mate is apparently high in antioxidants, contains 24 vitamins and minerals, and 15 amino acids. Yerba mate can also be found in energy drinks. Another good way of engaging with the locals is to ask them about the many legends surrounding yerba mate, which is known to the Gauchos as their “liquid vegetable”, and to the native peoples who survived severe periods of drought and famine by drinking yerba mate as the “Drink of the Gods”.