MATE THE NATIONAL DRINK OF ARGENTINA

This traditional South American beverage is a cultural cornerstone for Argentines who drink it all day long

On a typical weekend day in Buenos Aires, the city’s parks fill with people. Clusters of friends sit for hours in the sun, talking, playing music, kicking around a football and tanning. But no matter what the activity, nearly every group can be seen passing around mate (pronounced “mah-tay”), a traditional South American tea.

People of all ages drink mate, at home with family or while spending a relaxed afternoon with friends. For many, mate also is the beverage of choice for staying alert during the workday, as they sip on it at their desks.

Since mate preparing, drinking and sharing is an integral part of daily life in South America, learning the customs behind sampling this local tradition is an easy way for visitors to get a literal taste of Argentinean culture.

How to drink mate
To a visitor accustomed to seeing caffeinated beverages sipped from plastic toss-away cups and steaming mugs, mate looks particularly foreign. It is a beverage for sharing and it is served in a round, uncovered gourd that is made from a calabaza(squash) rind and often burnished with metal detailing. The yerba mate is packed around the metal bombilla (straw), which has a perforated base that functions also as a filter. One helping of packed yerba yields about 10 drinks, so a thermos of hot water is always nearby to refill. Those who are strict about their mate practices say the water should be heated to the point just before boiling.

Since an Argentine rarely prepares mate alone, there is a particular set of social codes to follow when enjoying the shared beverage as part of a mate circle. One person is the server — usually the person who owns the gourd and also prepares the mate — and he or she fills it for each person. Each participant drinks the full serving before passing it back to the server. All use the same gourd and straw, and “gracias” is only muttered when you have had your fill.