The mate, one Argentinian story, by Piuquén Vilela and Martín Cuchetti

The mate, one Argentinian story    

The mate is made with yerba mate. These leaves are bitter so some people put sugar into the mate. Other people put orange skin into to make it taste differently.

The leaves of the yerba mate are dried and cut previously. It grows near the rivers Paraná, Paraguay and Uruguay.

It has been consumed since pre-Columbian times by the indians from different tribes but the original mate was made by guaranies. They called it “ka’ay” , but in quechua “mati” means “pumkin” .

In general, the mate is made with hot water but if it’s made with juice, it is called “tereré”.

The mate is served in rounds of people. In Argentina, it is very popular to be with friends and drink mate or “matear” although people shouldn't be thirsty to do so. So the mate is like a meeting.