Mate consumption in Argentina rises up to 14 pounds a year per capita. It is ingested in 90% of the country’s households. One of the reasons people drink mate is because it’s super healthy. The components of this Argentine drink have made it valuable in terms of body and mind performance. Here are some of its benefits and properties.
Definition of Mate
Mate is a variant of the word hierba that means “herb,” “weed,” or “grass.” Both terms are used throughout Latin America. However, in Argentine culture, mate refers to mate exclusively.
The indigenous Guaraní first cultivated and consumed mate. After the Jesuits discovered its commercialization potential, the infusion became widespread.
La gente bebe mate en casa, en el trabajo, con la familia o los amigos.
El mate se obtiene a partir de las hojas de Illex paraguariensis un árbol nativo del bosque subtropical de Sudamérica. El área de distribución natural es muy restringida y prospera únicamente en una zona delimitada Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay y Uruguay.
¿Qué es yerba mate en inglés?
Mate is a plant that grows in forests near some South American rivers. Indigenous people first used mate. They made a drink from the dried leaves called mate. The word mate comes from the Quechua word for gourd. It has caffeine. The drink is similar to green tea. It is popular in places like Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and south Brazil. People often drink it in groups.
Some studies show health benefits of mate. But more research is needed to confirm this.
Mate grows as an evergreen bush. Leaves are dried and chopped to make the tea. Most people drink it with hot water. But when it’s hot out, lemonade is used instead. This is called tereré.
Incluso a los argentinos les impresiona ver a uruguayos andando en bicicleta y cebando mate al mismo tiempo. “La evolución del mate en nuestra sociedad es un fenómeno históricamente reciente”, dice Ricca.
Antes de usarlo por primera vez es necesario "curarlo". ¡Atención! El mate no se sirve, se ceba.
El mate argentino es una de las señas de identidad que los argentinos. Su origen tiene su entorno natural en el sur. Después de la llegada de los españoles, fue gracias a los jesuitas que aumentó la producción de mate hasta llegar a popularizarse en países vecinos, especialmente en Argentina.