Chimarrão and yerba mate come from the same plant – ilex paraguariensis. The difference is in how they’re processed. Chimarrão is more native to Brazil, whereas yerba mate is more native to Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
What is Chimarrão?
Yerba mate starts off by the picking of leaves once they’ve reached a certain length. Chimarrão is a yerba mate-based drink infused with hot water, served in a gourd, and ingested using a metal straw called bomba or bombilla.
Chimarrão (pronounced shee-ma-HA-oom) is the name of a caffeinated drink made from Ilex paraguariensis (in Portuguese, ‘erva-mate’) and hot water drunk in the southern regions of Brazil: Parana, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul. Just like Argentine and Uruguayan mate, it is drunk in a mate gourd, with a bombilla and hot water.
Ilex Paraguariensis is a species of the Holly family, common to the Central-Southern regions of South America.
What is the difference between Brazilian and Argentinian yerba mate?
Yerba mate comes in different colors, tastes, strengths, cuts, and effects. This variation comes from the way yerba mate is harvested, processed, and aged. Mate tea is native to South America, mostly Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. Each country has its own distinct yerba mate.
Argentina is the second largest producer of yerba mate. Most brands you see in America come from Argentina. Argentinian yerba mate is what’s usually recommended for beginners. Why?
- First, it’s the easiest one for novices to prepare. High content of medium-sized leaves and stems and low content of dust will allow you to strain the tea easily using a bombilla.
Brazilian yerba mate is fresher, tasting grassier, not aged like Argentinian or Paraguayan mate.
Chimarrão is traditionally drunk in cuia gourds, which are bigger with thicker walls, meant for sharing. If too big, a ‘vira mate’ is used to shake and remove particles before drinking. If no cuia, chimarrão can be prepared in other cups.
Origins
Yerba Mate grows in South America. The industry producing chimarrão is in Southern Brazilian states and Northern Argentinian provinces. First a flowerless shrub, it requires three years to mature into a 15-meter tree left unattended.
The Brazilian chimarrão is different having no stems.
As Brazilian-style mate, this yerba has more dust than Argentinian, giving a stronger taste that may clog bombillas, so spoon or hook works better.
Yerba mate is consumed in central and southern South America – Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile. First cultivated by indigenous Guaraní and Tupí prior to European colonization.
Is chimarrão and Matcha the same?
Chimarrão and matcha come from different plants. Chimarrão is made from the leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis plant, while matcha is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis tea plant.
Chimarrão is more common in parts of Brazil. It has a rich, nutty, grassy flavor.
Chimarrão is prepared differently than matcha. The leaves are processed differently and chimarrão is drunk as an infusion using hot water, while matcha is made into a powder that is whisked with hot water.
What is the green drink in Brazil?
Yerba mate, also known as “chimarrão”, is packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Drinking yerba mate can boost the immune system, tone the nervous system and aid digestion.
Chimarrão and tereré are yerba mate drinks.
Chimarrão is a hot yerba mate drink, served in a gourd with a metal straw. It originated with natives and was spread by Italian settlers. The tradition supported the economy across Brazil and neighbors.
Brazilians also drink mate tea, mainly in the South.