Brazil, the leading producer of yerba mate
Mate is one of the indigenous legacies that still persist in several South American countries, including Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, and Brazil, where this tradition is deeply rooted in their identity.
In Portuguese, cimarrão means "wild cattle that returned to the wild" or "wild dogs." It is a cultural legacy of the indigenous Aymaras, Quechuas, and Guarani.
However, it was the Jesuits who managed to domesticate the plant and cultivate it extensively. Today, Brazil is the main exporter of this plant, characterized by its darker green color, more powder, and absence of stems.
This is an infusion made from yerba mate, a plant that grows along riverbanks. The leaves are dried and crushed, placed inside a container where warm water is poured, and then consumed through a metal straw called a bombilla. Its flavor is particularly bitter, although the intensity varies depending on the curing of the yerba.
This beverage is usually drunk from gourds or porongos that undergo a curing process. The name for these containers is the same as the drink: mate or matera.
In Brazil, this tradition is especially strong in the states of Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul. Interestingly, the mate varies across these regions — some contain more leaves, others more stems — which creates a diverse market for tasting different styles of mate.
The Ceremony of Drinking Mate
Sharing mate is a symbol of hospitality in South American communities and is often shared when in company. It symbolizes friendship, and the spiritual significance of this drink makes it a ceremony—when someone offers you mate, they are offering the best of themselves.
There are some customs to know to avoid offending others in this beautiful tradition. First, you should know that this infusion is bitter, and in some places, fruit essences are added to soften the flavor, but sugar should never be added.
Another important point is not to clean the bombilla after each use, as sharing the drink is part of the tradition. It's considered disrespectful to think about putting something that others have used in their mouths—after all, our hands are much dirtier than the straw used to drink mate.
Finally, to avoid disagreements or making anyone uncomfortable, it is best to respect the round of mate, meaning the order in which the mate is passed from person to person.
Mate, a beverage that will make you healthier
Beyond its historical significance, which reaffirms our deepest roots—those of the indigenous peoples who were the first to inhabit these lands—mate is also a drink with medicinal properties, much like many other natural products.
This yerba contains a good amount of caffeine, antioxidants, potassium, amino acids, and vitamins. These nutrients offer several benefits, such as supporting the cardiovascular system by preventing cholesterol build-up in veins and arteries. Interestingly, it increases good cholesterol, which helps protect against heart attacks.
Additionally, its antioxidants help prevent cell oxidation and aging, delaying the aging process. And as if that weren’t enough, mate is energizing and helps burn stored calories in the body, especially fat reserves.
