Mate, pronounced mah-tey is the curious tea drink that made its way to mainstream America by way of social entrepreneurship is a huge industry in Argentina.The industry took off 200 years ago by Europeans, but for 2,000 years mate has been a popular drink for those living in the rainforest region where the plant is found.
The first time I ever had Yerba Mate was out of a Snapple-like bottle during college from the company Guayaki. Sound familiar? Guayaki is an organic Yerba Mate company only distrubuted in the US, you can read more about their contribution to preserving the rainforest’s natural state here. Well in Argentina, I have yet to see anyone drink it out of a can or bottle because the way to drink it here is out of a gourd with a metal straw.
Almost everyone drinks mate in Argentina. When you’re at the park in Buenos Aires, Rosario, Mendoza (anywhere in Argentina) you will see a group of friends sitting together in a circle, passing the mate around or even someone waiting at the bus stop taking a sip. It’s extremely common and no it’s not just a fad like I imagined that it was. People have been drinking mate for two centuries. At the same time, many people dislike the social aspect of passing and sharing the mate if everyone is using the same bombilla (straw.) While that may seem gross, it seems that people in Argentina are convinced that you can’t get sick from sharing mate and drinking out of the same bombilla.
What exactly is mate?
Mate, pronounced mah-tey, is a type of drink that is basically like an herbal tea, from the Yerba Mate shrub found in South American Rainforests. The dried leaves of the shrub are first cultivated, then seeped in hot water to infuse its flavor into a popular, national Argentine drink! There are over 200 brands of mate and depending on the region they’re being sold, there might be slight variations of flavor. For example, in Argentina the more popular mate version has twigs and sticks for a less bitter flavor. In Uruguay the more popular preference is with only the Yerba Mate leaves which does have a more bitter taste. Though you can always add sugar to sweeten the flavor the mate.
When you’re drinking a mate you’re going to need a few key items: A bombilla, a porongo, mate and thermos with hot water.
The Porongo
For my birthday and as a welcome gift, my cousin Nico got me a modern version of a mate porongo made out of silicone that I can’t wait to use this weekend because I have yet to buy my own pack of mate. A traditional porongo is made with natural materials such as clay, wood and most popular as well as the most traditional is out of a gourd. You can find these in shops all over Buenos Aires and you can shop around for different designs and colors. Whatever tickles your fancy!
The Bombilla (Metal Straw)
The bombilla in Argentina pronounced as bom-beesha, is the metal straw you drink with is used to filter out the mate so you don’t have too many bits in your mouth. Rumor has it that you can’t spread diseases or bacteria by sharing a bombilla, but personally, I would limit the amount of people I share my straw with and choosy about who I share it with.
How to Drink Yerba Mate
Preparing Yerba Mate comes with a few steps if you’re looking to drink it the traditional way. They do sell mate in tea bags which in that case you would just seep the tea bag until it’s brewed and ready. However, to drink Yerba Mate like a true Argentinian local, follow these easy steps.
Step One
Fill your Porongo with the dried Yerba Mate leaves until it fills a little more than half way of the gourd.
Step Two
Cover the opening of the prorongo with your hand, turn it upside down and shake it fast like you would before opening salad dressing. You do this so that the smaller mate leaves can float in the hot water and not linger at the bottom of the gourd where they get sucked through the bombilla and into your mouth! It’s okay if they do, you can just spit the leaves out. Your hand will catch mate powder from doing this, just blow or wipe it off.
Step Three
After you’re done shaking it, flip it back over and prepare the water. You need to boil the water in a kettle, but before using the water wait for it to cool down a little bit. You don’t want to pour boiling water. Pour just enough water into the gourd so that the Yerba Mate is wet and can soak within the water. This when the brewing process starts.
Step Four
While covering the top of bombilla with a finger slide the bombilla into the gourd. You do this so that flakes don’t get through the filter. Just stick the bombillo into the edge of the propongo and try to create a space where the mate leaves are not covering the bottom of it so that when you try to sip the leaves don’t clog it.
Step Five
Pour some water into the space you created, just enough so that there is fluid on the bottom of the gourd– just enough water to sip. You don’t want to water down the mate because it will loose its flavor quickly.
Step Six
Drink the mate! When there is no more water left in your gourd, add more water into the same spot as before. Repeat this step often!
The Mate Museum
In the town of Tigre, Buenos Aires, there actually is a Yerba Mate museum and I really suggest checking it out if you happen to be in the area! There is an amazing collection of antique mate porongos made out of porcelain, glass, bull hoofs, chicken skin….yes I am serious! It was really interesting to see the variation in styles as they were a complete status symbol. If you had an elegant proponga from Europe, then you were likely from a wealthier class. Could you imagine judging someone based on how much their coffee mug costs? In any case, I recommend checking out the museum and getting a short tour and learning about the history of it. Also, stop by the patio cafe where you can order a mate and practice the steps above!
So, how do you take you your mate?
Want to follow my trip via photos? Check out my Instagram @adriftanywhere_travelblog 
If you enjoyed this post, why don’t you follow Adrift Anywhere on Facebook or subscribe to get updates on budgeting tips, travel advice and tips!