All about mate: Argentina's official drink with incredible health benefits

Mate as a symbol

Mate is a symbol of Argentine culture, associated with hospitality, sharing and all the traditions of the countryside. It is the perfect excuse to socialize, it is very common to receive the invitation to "get together to drink some mates" which is nothing more and nothing less than a way to generate bonds and create a relaxed atmosphere. It is the perfect excuse to get together
Mate is present throughout the day. It is the first drink of the day, and it is common to hear that without some mates, it is impossible to start the day. It accompanies you during your daily tasks, at work or while studying.

Just a little about mate history

Mate is part of Argentina's history, the first to consume yerba mate were the Guarani people 500 years ago and it was spread by the Spanish conquistadors. Years later, the Jesuits introduced the cultivation of yerba mate in the Jesuit Guarani missions.
It is often said that we are all equal when it comes to mate, as it is consumed by all social strata, regardless of gender or age.
Valeria Trapaga, the first mate sommelier in Argentina, explains that "The greatest magic that mate has is inherited from the Guarani who discovered it. They ordered their lives according to a principle of reciprocity because they considered that the richest person was not the one who had the most, but the one who had the greatest capacity to share material and spiritual goods with others. That is why when they discovered yerba mate and made it part of their lives, because for them it was a potion, they decided that they had to share it. And it was in front of the fire, which was sacred, and passing a bowl to each other, that they made this decision. Today we share mate thanks to this gesture, to this mystical and magical message of the Guarani"

What do you need to drink mate?

A gourd, a bombilla (straw) and a kettle (or a thermic bottle) To carry your mate everywhere, mate bags are very practical and useful.

The traditional mate is a gourd, but nowadays you can find mates made of different materials. If you ask a mate lover which mate is the best, he/she will answer without hesitation that it is the one made of gourd. For bombillas, the most common ones are made of stainless steel, but exclusive and unique designs are available in silver and alpaca silver. About the temperature of the water, the recommended water temperature is 75C (167F), so that when sipping the mate, the temperature is around 37 to 55C (98.6 - 131F). If water is used at a higher temperature, the yerba leaves will burn and the flavour of the mate will be spoiled. And of course, you need to take just 5 minutes to relax and enjoy this perfect infusion to boost your energy.

Before drinking mate for the first time, mate calabaza should be prepared through the "curing" process.

Fill the mate with yerba mate and add hot water. We let it rest until the next day. Then we scrape the inside walls of the mate very well with a spoon to remove the woody stem. This procedure can be repeated several times to be more effective. When the stem has been completely removed, the mate should be rinsed and left to dry in the sun. It is then ready to use.

The three most traditional recipes to prepare yerba mate infusions

1. How to prepare the perfect mate

Heat water without letting it boil.

Fill the mate 3/4 full with yerba mate.

Cover the mate with your hand, turn it upside down and shake gently to mix the components well.

Raise the mate little by little to an inclination of about 45 degrees and pour a little warm water on the side with less yerba, to moisten the bottom.

Taking advantage of this inclination, introduce the bombilla against the inner wall, trying to keep it fixed and not to move it any further.

Add hot water slowly on the side of the bombilla, until the surface fills with foam.

As the yerba absorbs the water and the level goes down, add more water little by little until it reaches the top, and the mate is ready to enjoy!

Although the classic mate is bitter, some people prefer to sweeten the infusion with a little sugar on the surface of the yerba. You can also add more flavour to the mate by placing some dried orange, lemon or grapefruit peels, or mint, lemon balm or lemon verbena leaves at the bottom.

2. Mate cocido

Heat 400 ml of water in a pan and wait for the first boil.

Add 2 tablespoons of yerba mate.

Stir for a minute and turn off the heat.

Let it rest for a few minutes and add a little cold water.

Strain through a cloth strainer.

3. Tereré (Cold version of the mate beverage)

Pour the yerba into the mate cup about halfway.

Cover with the palm of your hand, invert the mate glass and shake gently to mix the components well.

Prepare cold water flavoured with lemon, grapefruit or orange slices in a pitcher or thermos with plenty of ice.

Add the liquid from the pitcher or thermos to the mate. The first time the cold liquid is added it should be in a generous amount, soaking all the yerba. Let it sit for a few minutes and then insert the bombilla into the inner wall of the mate, pressing carefully.

Add a few ice cubes and that's it. The tereré can now be enjoyed, adding cold water or ice to each barley and drinking directly from the bombilla.

What benefits are attributed to the drink mate?

Powerful antioxidant due to its high concentration of polyphenols, tannins, trace minerals, flavonoids, quercetin, amino acids and saponins and exhibits more antioxidant power than green tea. 

Source of vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, C and E

Source of minerals : calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, sulfur, zinc effect due to its xanthine content.

Mate may reduce their risk of developing coronary disease.

Yerba Mate has anti-obesity activity in vivo and scientists that Yerba Mate treatment has a modulatory effect on glucose levels related to obesity.

Yerba mate may improve insulin signaling and blood sugar control reducing complications associated with diabetes.

Anti-tumor effects: a promising agent for the treatment of colon cancer, reduced tumor metastasis in Breast Cancer Models could be used as an herbal medicine or functional food ingredient

Yerba mate may have a potential protective role in the development of Parkinson's disease

Yerba mate boost mental functions. Enhancing memory, mood, and alertness, it brings more motivation and stimulates the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Yerba mate is a booster of immune system. It is high in compounds called saponins. These natural emulsifiers boost the immune system and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It also contains potent antioxidants known as polyphenols – plant-based compounds which modulate the overactive immune response contributing to seasonal allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes.

Consumption of yerba mate is associated with a bone protective effect

Yerba mate reduces fatigue and increases energy levels, enhance physical performance

It is a great drink to consume at breakfast as its theine content helps to wake you up.

Yerba mate today

Nowadays it is possible to find different types of yerba in the market. Here you have a small summary so that you can find the one that suits your taste.

Yerba mate with stick

This is the most traditional or common yerba in the mother cultures, it is ideal for lovers of mild flavours or for people who are not used to drinking mate frequently, this type of yerba, according to the food code, has a proportion of 70% of crushed leaves and 30% of stick.

Yerba mate without stick or despalada:

This yerba is also one of the most common and unlike yerba con palo, this one offers a stronger and longer lasting flavour. According to the food code, the proportion of this variety of yerba mate should be 90% ground leaves and 10% crushed palo.

Flavoured yerba mate:

This variety of yerba mate is made with natural essences offering flavours ranging from citrus such as orange, lemon or grapefruit to more exotic flavours such as tropical fruits or berries among others.

Compound yerba mate:

This variety of yerba mate is obtained by mixing yerba mate with natural herbs such as camomile, boldo, linden, pennyroyal and other varieties of mountain herbs that provide digestive properties and a feeling of well-being and relaxation. To obtain this type of yerba mate, the percentage of aromatic herbs should not exceed 40% and the remaining 60% should be yerba mate leaves.

Yerba mate Barbacuá or tostada:

Barbacuá in Guaraní means toasting and it is an ancestral process, one could say, used by the aborigines to treat yerba mate for later consumption. Here the yerba mate is subjected to a drying or toasting process that consists of exposing the leaves to the heat of a wood fire for a day, giving it a smoky flavour typical of the wood used in the process.

Yerba mate for tereré:

This type of yerba is obtained from a coarser grind and with less dust, the mate tereré is a variety of mate that is drunk with cold water or natural juices and if we use traditional yerbas, the dust and the fine grind can cause the bombilla to clog, for this reason the ideal yerba for tereré is coarse and with little dust content.

Organic yerba mate:

For the elaboration of this variety of yerba mate, the care of the environment and the plants is taken into account, from sowing to harvesting, avoiding the use of fertilisers, agrochemicals and any type of synthetic products that could damage the environment. The use of recyclable materials is also considered for the manufacture of the containers and packaging with which this type of yerba mate is distributed.

Athletes recommend it

During the World Cup in Qatar. Eric Dier, England national team player, told a press conference that he drinks mate every day and showed how he does it.

We invite you to discover the magic of mate. Get everything you need by clicking here and start enjoying all the benefits of mate