El mate, el bombilla y el yerba

A mate filled with yerba and a bombilla. Everything you need for an afternoon pick-me-up. Below, a close up of the yerba, and bottom, porteños enjoying mate in a park in Buenos Aires. - AC

Those who frequent North American coffee shops have undoubtedly seen or heard of Yerba Mate. For a while it was the alternative craze among the caffeine addicted and the fad happy in the United States. In South America, most notably Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, parts of Brazil and Chile, mate is a way of life, a part of the culture and history. It is a daily drink, a social drink and, of course, a stimulant.

Contrary to some popular belief, according to Wikipedia, mate´s effects do indeed stem from caffeine. However, the "buzz" produced by mate is different than a cup of coffee known by most early risers in the United States. The mate buzz itself is more smooth, and the crash is not nearly as harsh due to a different chemical cocktail than coffee or tea.

While most widely available in the United States in tea bags, mate in South America is a much different experience. The tools consist of a mate - traditionally made of a hollowed out gourd, and a bombilla - a straw made of metal (traditionally silver) or reed. The bombilla is open at one end and usually filled with holes or slots at the other, which act as a filter. The herb itself is called yerba, and consists of dried, chopped and ground up flakes and twigs of the yerba-mate plant, a small evergreen tree native to the region.

Preparing mate is quite simple: Pour or spoon yerba into a mate until it is about three-quarters full. Add hot water - never boiling - to fill the mate. Hold a finger over the mouth end of the bombilla and insert the slotted end down into the infusion until it rests at the bottom, then release your finger from the exposed mouth. The concotion is not ment to be stirred, but the bombilla remains stationary in the yerba. A mate full of yerba is generally good for about 25 or 30 minutes.

It is customary in Argentina to drink mate with friends. A group of friends sitting in the park sharing mate is a common sight. The general custom is for one person to drink until the bombilla makes a slurping sound, refill the mate with water and then allow another person to drink it´s entirety. The yerba will last for half and hour or so and can be infused many times effectively, but often people will add in a bit more, or a spoonfull of sugar now and then to refresh the taste.

In taste, mate is most similar to a strong green tea, although it has a unique taste all it´s own. It is very earthy, grassy, herby and natural. When drank traditionally out of a mate, the taste is quite a bit stronger than traditional teas. Often, the mate will get more smooth after a couple of mates of water go through the yerba. And in Argentina, it is not uncommon to add in sugar to sweeten up the rather strong, earthy taste.

- AC