The South American Drink
The South American beverage is consumed for its social and health benefits. To properly enjoy the infusion with a metal straw, make sure to tilt the cup slightly to create a seal and sip slowly to savor the flavors. The straw filters out the leaves, allowing you to enjoy the drink without ingesting any solids. This helps with digestion and prevents any unwanted side effects. The infusion is pretty much impossible to visit any of these countries and leave without trying! The drink (pronounced mah-tay) is a must-try, but not many people know that this drink is steeped in tradition and has a long history.
The Metal Straw
A bombilla is a metal straw with a filter, used to drink the South American drink traditionally, from a gourd. The straw filters out the leaves, allowing you to enjoy the infusion without ingesting any solids. This helps with digestion and prevents any unwanted side effects.
There are many bombilla shapes, sizes and materials. Some prefer a specific shape but one type is most versatile. The spoon bombilla works with any cut and is best for brands with more powder.
Preparing the Drink
To prepare traditional drink, fill the gourd half full. Cover the top and invert to bring fine particles up, leaving larger ones to filter. Insert bombilla and add hot water, but not boiling to prevent bitterness. The ideal temperature is 170°F (77°C).
The infusion is prepared by steeping the dried leaves in hot water and filtering with a bombilla straw.
The Straw’s Name
What is the name of the straw used to drink the South American drink?
A metal straw called a bombilla is used to drink the infusion. This straw filters out the leaves, allowing you to enjoy the drink without ingesting any solids.
Sharing and Health Benefits
One key aspect is sharing the mate with others, passing it around in a circle to create community. Additionally, the metal straw has health benefits, helping digestion and preventing side effects.
You drink the South American drink with a metal straw, traditionally made from silver, called bombilla in Spanish and bomba in Portuguese. The flavor can vary quite a bit, depending on how the leaves were processed and how you prepare the drink. To properly enjoy the infusion with a metal straw, make sure to tilt the cup slightly to create a seal and sip slowly to savor the flavors. One key aspect of this etiquette is sharing the mate with others, passing it around in a circle. This creates a sense of community and connection. Additionally, the metal straw filters out the leaves, allowing you to enjoy the infusion without ingesting any solids. This helps with digestion and prevents any unwanted side effects. The South American drink is produced from holly leaves from an evergreen plant that is native to only a few regions in South America.
As a passionate enthusiast, I believe it is important to respect the traditional way of drinking mate.
Why Use Metal Straws?
Advantages of Metal Straws
- They are easy to clean. Plastic straws get holes and tears with bacteria.
- Drinks taste better through metal. Material impacts taste.
- Metal does not hold bacteria like plastic and paper straws do.
Environmental Benefits
What is the point of metal straws?
Metal straws last longer than plastic straws. They can be reused. Metal straws are better for the environment because they create less waste.
Millions of plastic straws create plastic waste that harms the environment. Metal straws help reduce this plastic waste.
However, metal straws can leave a metallic taste and become hot with hot drinks. Still, metal straws produce less waste and last longer than plastic. So they are an eco-friendly choice to help reduce plastic straw use.