It can be said that mate (pronounceed MAH-tay) is the national drink of Argentina, although the passion for this slightly bitter infusion with a minty aftertaste is shared by Uruguayans, Southern Brazilians and Paraguayans alike. I recently learned that it is also popular in Syria and Jordan as well. Who knew?

Mate consists of dried yerba mate leaves served in a hollowed gourd, which is then filled with hot, but not boiling, water. This infusion is sucked through a metal straw called bombilla. Some people like to add a little sugar or other ingredients like peppermint or bits of dried orange peel to flavour their drink. Nowadays, most mate cups are made of wood or metal, which are sturdier than the traditional gourd and can withstand the daily wear and tear much better.

Originally, it was the Guarani Indians who cultivated yerba mate and invented the drink. Later, the Jesuit missionaries spread the custom. The Jesuit missions in northeastern Argentina, Paraguay, southern Brazil and parts of Uruguay provided a safe haven for the Guarani Indians who wanted to escape slavery at the hands of the Spanish invaders.

The gauchos (the cowboys of the Pampas) later adopted this infusion. His mate gourd and his horse are part of a gaucho‘s identity. And just as they used to sit around the campfire and chat afte a long day of cattle droving, people nowadays like to bond over a few rounds of mate.

And yes, there is only one mate and bombilla per group. The designated server (cebador) passes it round, making sure everyone is equally served.

Those who don’t feel brave enough to try mate or just can’t face the idea of sharing the same straw with other people can try a mate cocido, which is sold in tea bags and prepared like regular tea.

There isn’t a fixed time for mate. It is drunk round the clock: from students pulling all-nighters to long-distance lorry drivers (not really advisable but not illegal either), Patagonian park rangers on chilly winter nights to ranch owners and ranch hands. This most democratic infusion knows no social or economic boundaries.

I have a confession to make: I don’t actually like mate. I only drank it when I visited my Granny as a child. And as she didn’t think it was very nutritious, she would make it with hot milk instead of water. It was an acquired taste, to say the least. But everything tastes better if your grandmother makes it.

Read more:
Cafe culture in Buenos Aires
Panes de queso y mate (Food of the World)
Blogs from Argentina on Blogs of the World

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About the author

Ana Astri-O’Reilly is from Argentina, where she lived until five years ago. She currently lives in Dallas, USA with her British husband, but they move a lot. Previously a translator and English and Spanish teacher, Ana first started writing to share her experiences and adventures with friends and family. She speaks Spanish, English and a smattering of Portuguese.