Argentine Tea Sets, Or Simply: Mate

While the Argentine people don't ever call their Yerba Mate "tea", I can't help but feel that it goes under that category. It is hard to escape this stuff in Argentina, which is to say that it is everywhere! Everywhere you look you see people with their thermos in one hand and their mate in the other. It's a wonderful, unique bit of culture that demands conversation.

Most of us have at least heard the term "yerba mate" these days. It is becoming quite popular in the U.S. as a cool, trendy beverage. However, we have yet to drink it from an actual gourd, as opposed to using our standard tea bags.

In order to make traditional mate, three things are needed: a gourd, cup or "mate", a metal straw called a "bombilla", and some loose tea called "yerba."

Teas come in all flavors, colors and types, and yerba is just one of them. Argentina is known for growing quality yerba. Yerba is considered by many to be a very strong tea. It is often referred to as a smokey flavored tea. Stems of the plant are usually included in the bags of yerba.

First you take your mate, and fill it about 2/3 full of yerba. Then, take your hand and place it over the top of the mate, and flip it over and shake it a few times so that the powder sifts through onto your hand. Flip the mate back over and brush your hand off. Now, pour some tepid or cool water into the mate until the yerba just absorbs it and swells up. Now, take your bombilla and put your finger over the end that you drink out of, so that when you place it in the yerba, it doesn't get plugged. Anyway, now insert the bombilla into the wet yerba at an angle so that it rests on the edge of the mate.

Now it is time to add the hot water. Pour it onto the bombilla so that the yerba doesn't get messed up. You should see the top of the yerba get frothy. When there are little bubbles, the mate is perfect for drinking. But keep in mind, mate isn't something that people drink when they are thirsty, it's meant to help people bond and relate to each other; to start conversation and inspire thought and communication.

In a group of mate drinkers, the custom is as follows: There is a server. The server prepares the mate and then begins to pass it counter clockwise in a group. When the mate is handed to you, you take it and drink the entire contents before handing it back to the server, so that he may fill it up and hand it to the next person. You can drink it all in one long sip, or within a few minutes. An important thing to remember though, is not to say "thank you" when you hand it back, unless you mean to say that you do not want anymore.

When you've been drinking the same mate for a while, you'll notice that pretty soon the yerba starts to float. This means that the yerba is ready to be dumped out. It is "lavada" or "washed" and can be simply dumped out so that new yerba can be added.

Mate is a social drink. It reminds us to take the time to listen to each other and get to know one another. If you are ever offered mate, you should accept it happily! Even if you don't like the taste at first, it is worth the gesture and experience!