Yerba mate is an ancient herb native to South America. It was first consumed by indigenous tribes who lived in the forests of Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. These tribes used yerba mate for stamina and medicinal purposes.
When the Spanish arrived in South America in the 16th century, they learned to consume yerba mate from the Guarani tribe. The Jesuit missionaries realized the economic potential of commercializing yerba mate and spread its consumption across Spanish territories.
Today, yerba mate is most popular in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and southern Brazil where it is consumed 6 to 1 over coffee. It has the same amount of caffeine as coffee but does not cause jitteriness or crashes.
The youngest, greenest leaves of the yerba mate plant are harvested biannually and dried before being used to prepare the infusion. Yerba mate can be consumed hot or cold from a traditional gourd and metal straw, called a bombilla. Drinking this South American beverage is a beloved social tradition that brings friends and families together.
Yerba mate originated in South America, where it was first consumed by indigenous communities.
In the early 17th century, yerba mate had become the chief export of the Guaraní territories, above sugar, wine and tobacco, which had previously dominated.
Like yerba mate, Brazilian chimarrão is traditionally consumed through a metal or wooden straw called a bomba and in a special gourd called the cuia.
Yes, yerba mate does contain sugar. It’s made from the leaves and stems of the yerba mate plant, which naturally contains different types of sugars.
Syrians and the Lebanese prepare mate by adding yerba mate and hot water to a gourd – and then stirring it. This act of stirring yerba and hot water would be blasphemy to a yerba mate drinker.
In South America, yerba mate brings families and friends together. Being offered mate is a sign of respect and in many instances, a great way to make new friends.
Yerba mate consumption in Argentina rises up to 14 pounds a year per capita. It is ingested in 90% of the country’s households and more than a pound is included monthly in the basic food basket.
The Jesuits realized the great economic potential of yerba mate from the 1650s to 1670s and successfully founded yerba mate plantations at their missions, contributing to the creation of a commercial market.
Yerba mate is consumed 6 to 1 over coffee in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Southern Brazil.
It’s common to see people from various countries, with different ethnicities, enjoying some mate together. Although mate culture isn’t as pronounced in Poland as in Argentina, it’s way more evolved than in other European countries.
Yerba mate comes from the evergreen shrub Ilex paraguariensis. It is typically served as a tea in gourds and drunk from a straw called a bombilla. The flavor can be described as earthy, grassy, or woodsy with hints of fruit flavors.
There is much more to mate than enjoying the drink in a group of friends though. Many of the traditions we still see today have been commonplace in mate circles across South America for years!
Everyone knows that caffeine wakes you up and increases your blood pressure. But one of the other three main stimulants in Yerba Mate, theobromine, is also one of the active ingredients in chocolate.
Drinking yerba mate is common in South America. More than just a tea, mate has become a symbol of Argentine identity and roots. Considered as a gift from the gods to the Guarani people for centuries, the mate tree is widespread in the forests of South America.
In Argentina, drinking yerba mate in a traditional circle is deeply ingrained in the culture. Sharing the beverage symbolizes unity, friendship, and hospitality. Argentina has the highest yerba mate consumption per capita, ingesting up to 14 pounds per person annually.
As yerba mate spreads globally, more people discover its benefits. It has the same caffeine as coffee but doesn’t cause jitters or crashes.
The beverage is prepared by nearly filling a gourd vessel with yerba and adding hot, not boiling, water. It’s then drunk through a metal straw that filters out the leaves. Whilst preparation methods vary slightly, these basic elements are universal.
Across South America, the art of sharing mate has been passed down for years. Fundamental mate etiquette teaches that being offered mate is a sign of respect, and a way to make new friends.