This caffeinated drink made from the dried leaves of a South American plant is most popular in Uruguay and Paraguay where people walk the streets carrying it. Argentina consumes 5 kg per person annually.
Indigenous people first cultivated the herbal tea in what is now Paraguay. After the Jesuits realized its potential, it spread through South America.
Today, it is growing in popularity worldwide. While originating in Argentina, this infusion now spreads far beyond its homeland.
The plant
The plant grows on an evergreen bush native to parts of South America like Argentina, Southern Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. In the wild, it grows over 8 meters high.
Drinkers claim its effects are stimulating yet relaxing – different from energy drinks. It also helps digestion.
The caffeine-rich drink is made by steeping dried leaves in hot water and sipping it through a metal straw. It has an earthy, slightly bitter taste with a unique sweetness. The best tasting leaves grow in the shade, leaving them more flavorful.
Can the plant be grown in the US?
The plant requires specific growing conditions, including warm temperatures and acidic soil. The leaves are harvested by hand or with special tools. They are then dried over wood fires or hot air dryers before being processed further into tea.
After the Jesuits discovered its commercial potential, it became widespread.
The flavor can be described as earthy, grassy, or woodsy with hints of fruit. It is energizing beverage with medicinal properties.
Where is the plant harvested from?
This oval area overlaps northern Argentina, southwestern Brazil, southeastern Paraguay. The Falls of Iguazú lies at the heart where the three countries meet.
The plant needs warm temperatures and acidic soil. Leaves are harvested by hand or with special tools. Argentina exports lots of it.
But the best tasting mate grows in rainforest shade. Its leaves grow more slowly there and taste better.
It comes in many colors, tastes, strengths and effects based on processing.
People meet up to drink it. They share one gourd and bombilla, which bonds them.
What zone does the plant grow in?
This tree grows exclusively in subtropical regions of South America. It has existed for centuries. Today, it is the number one drink for millions of people in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil. The bush grows naturally in Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina at latitudes between 10 and 30 degrees in an area of approximately 247,000 acres. High humidity, warm temperatures, rich soil, and good drainage are required for it to grow successfully.
Therefore, regions with high precipitation are best suited to cultivating this plant. In addition, the temperature affects its growth. The ideal conditions can be achieved in certain regions like northern Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. Here, cultivators called yerbateros harvest the plant.
The leaves are hand picked from small farms and indigenous communities. The leaves are then dried and processed. Unlike coffee or tea, drinking it is a social event shared among friends and family in parts of South America. It contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and caffeine. It is brewed by steeping dried leaves in hot water and served in a gourd with a metal straw.