A hot summer day ends in Argentina. The late afternoon sun paints the sky pink, yellow and orange. A light breeze spins dust around the legs of children playing soccer in the dry dirt street. A few close neighbors group together on the porch of a tiny home. They sit on old wooden chairs and talk of life’s most important events—the ones that occurred that day. They gaze at the children kicking the old leather ball, converse, laugh, and pass a small wooden cup around the circle of friends.
Each person sips the green beverage through a metallic straw carefully inserted into the wooden gourd. At first glance, outsiders may think they are holding a rare religious ceremony or that the gourd and straw are drug paraphernalia.
In actuality, the group is participating in a South American custom that some believe to date back to the meridian of time. Throughout Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and the Southern parts of Chile, the natives drink yerba mate (pronounced mah-tae). Yerba mate, also known as the drink of the Gods, is a rich green tea shared between close friends, soon-to-be friends and family. It is not only calming to the mind and spirit, but also, as modern science has proven, possesses great health secrets.
History of Yerba Mate
The Guarani Indians were the first people to drink mate. Exactly where and how they learned to drink mate is unknown, but the history of mate can be traced back to two famous legends that account for its origin. The first one, taken from Yerba Mate: Legend of the Guarani Indians, goes as follows:
The ancestors of the Guarani at one time in the distant past crossed a great and spacious ocean from a far land to settle in the Americas. They found the land both wonderful yet full of dangers; through diligence and effort they subdued the land and inaugurated a new civilization.
The Guarani tribes worked the land and became excellent craftsmen. They looked forward to the coming of a tall, fair-skinned, blue eyed, bearded God (Pa' i Shume) who, according to legend, descended from the skies and expressed his pleasure with the Guarani. He brought religious knowledge and imparted to them certain agricultural practices to be of benefit during times of drought and pestilence as well as day-to-day basis. Significantly, He unlocked the secrets of health and medicine and revealed the healing qualities of native plants. One of the most important of these secrets was how to harvest and prepare the leaves of the Yerba Mate tree. The Mate beverage was meant to ensure health, vitality, and longevity.
The second legend of the herb’s origin is told in Art and Culture: Argentine Literature.
This legend is told as follows: (readers note: This legend has been condensed and is not told word for word due its length.)
Many years ago the Goddess of the moon, Asi, desired to experience earth life. She called upon one her close friend, Aria, the Goddess of the clouds. Asi told Aria of her plan and asked Aria to accompany her to earth. Aria agreed, so together they went down to the earth. They arrived in a dense forest and there they took the form of humans. While walking in the forest they came across a tiger which threatened them with their lives. Just as the tiger was about to consume the two young Goddesses an old and brave Indian appeared. Taking his knife from its sheath he fought diligently with the tiger. When the battle was over the tiger had been killed and the man and two young girls were safe.
When the girls had calmed down the old man invited them to accompany him to his cabin. "There awaits my wife and daughter. They will have a meal prepared and we can eat, then you can be on your way", the man explained. Asi and Aria followed the man through the woods to his humble home. The home sat deep in the woods miles from the tribe and all other people. When the three arrived at the house the old man's wife and beautiful young daughter were waiting with a wonderful meal prepared. The couple lived humbly and didn’t have a lot to offer Asi and Aria, but they offered them everything they had. As the young Goddesses sat and ate they marveled at the beauty, innocence, and purity of the young daughter.
After finishing the meal Asi and Aria gratefully thanked the family. They said their good-byes to the wife and daughter. The man offered to walk Asi and Aria to the edge of the forest. As they walked together Asi asked the man why he lived alone with his family and not with the tribe. "We live alone in the woods to protect and preserve the goodness and innocence of my daughter", explained the loving father. Asi and Aria again thanked the man for all he had done for them. After walking into the forest a short distance they rose into the heavens again taking the form of Goddesses. Their hearts went out to the Old Indian and his family. They decided that night they would cause a deep sleep to fall upon the man and his family. While they were sleeping Aria and Asi planted beautiful trees with white flowers all around the house.
When the family awakened from their deep sleep they couldn't believe their eyes as they beheld the breathtaking sight. A voice came from the heavens and said, "I am Asi, Goddess of the moon. Aria, Goddess of the clouds and I have prepared and planted these trees called the Yerba mate tree. This tree will be a sign of deep friendship for you and for all that live in this land. It will also preserve the beauty and purity of your daughter as long as she drink of the herb of the Yerba mate tree.
How true are these legends? It’s hard to say; however, all legends are based on some truths. The appearance of a white God has been accounted in numerous records by Guarani, Incas, Mayas and other indigenous cultures of the Americas—they all stem from the same ancestors. The fact is that yerba mate has been cultivated and drank for hundreds of years.
Today it is grown and produced in abundance. In the countries of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Southern Brazil, over three hundred tons are produced annually (The Magazine of…p.1). In Argentina alone, over 175,000 tons of the herb are consumed annually (Herbal Gram p.11) and there are more than two hundred different brands of mate on the market today. (Herbal Gram p.10)
How to Prepare Yerba Mate
Mate is drank from a gourd. The first gourds were made of small, hollowed out, dried squash shells. Today, designing and creating a gourd is an art. Many gourds are covered with intricate designs and patterns. One can find gourds made of many different materials and in many different forms, shapes, and sizes. Tin, wood, squash shells, clay, and the horns and scrotums of cattle are often used. Even gold and silver can be found on a mate gourd. The more expensive gourds can reach prices of over two thousand dollars (Mate… p.42). There are also gourds with two mouths known as the "lovers' mate". Some gourds are equipped with a small stand or legs to keep them sitting upright. Each mate gourd is individual and has its own characteristics.
Another important utensil used to drink yerba mate is the straw. This straw is known as a bombilla. Like the gourds there are many types of bombillas and each bombilla has its individuality. Bombillas were first made of wood but since the middle of the nineteenth century (Mate… p.47) the majority of them are made of some type of metal. The bombilla has a filter on one end to separate the water from the herb. This prevents the herb from entering the drinker's mouth. The first existence of a bombilla with a filter was recorded in the middle of the eighteenth century (Mate…p.46). The bombillas are often decorated with designs and fine craftsmanship. The more expensive ones often have gold, silver, rubies, and even diamonds in the patterns.
There are two basic types of bombillas: the strait bombilla, and the curved bombilla. The strait bombilla is the most common. It has a strait tube that requires the drinker to bow his head as if in reverence to partake of the herb. The second type, the curved bombilla, has a curved tube and was invented for the truck drivers and others who enjoyed drinking mate while driving. This made it possible for them to keep their eyes on the road while sipping the tea.
The hot water used to drink yerba mate is held in a thermos or kettle. The kettles have a long neck in order to spill a narrow stream of water into the gourd. The thermoses are used mainly for traveling and in places where there isn't means to heat water. The most desired thermoses have a small hand pump on top used to pump the hot water into the gourd. This is very convenient because it keeps the water at a desired temperature and also prevents spillage. Some very dedicated mate drinkers even give their thermoses and kettles names such as: Asombrosa, Suavecita la Traviesa, or La Exigente.
Preparing a good yerba mate takes time and practice, but anyone can learn to do it; even an all-American full-blooded gringo. The first step in preparing a mate is making sure the mate gourd has been cured. This is a process done by letting moist mate herb set in the gourd for at least 48 hours. The curing process only has to be done when the gourd has not been previously used. The curing institutes the absorbing of the flavor of the herb into the gourd.
Once the gourd has been cured it ready for use. Approximately two-thirds of the gourd is filled with the herb. The hand is then placed over the top of the gourd and it is turned upside down and shaken slightly. This brings any powder to the top of the gourd preventing a plugged bombilla. This is very important, as we will see later on. The gourd is then turned carefully upright forming a wall of the herb on one side. A small amount of cold or luke warm water is poured on the empty side of the gourd. This prevents the hot water from scalding the herb causing it to lose nutrients. The bombilla is then place gently in the empty side of the gourd. Some demanding experts claim it is necessary to top the bombilla as it is placed into the gourd preventing air from escaping. This also hinders a plugged bombilla. Hot, but never boiling, water is then poured over the herb. A green froth frequently forms on the top of a well-prepared mate. The beverage is then sipped slowly through the bombilla.
Yerba Mate Etiquette
As with other customs and traditions there are some rules of etiquette for drinking mate. One person of the mate circle is dedicated as the pourer also known as the server. The server prepares the mate and always takes the first drink. This ensures that the mate being served is of up-most quality in all aspects. The one drinking the mate always drinks until the gourd is empty. This is signaled by the sucking-air sound made by an empty gourd. Making this sucking-air sound is not considered bad manners while drinking yerba mate. The server then refills the gourd and passes it to the next person always using the right hand. The person receiving the mate also uses his or her right hand. The same bombilla is used by all in the mate circle. Some may question sanitary issues related to the using of the same bombilla. It can be unsanitary but no more than kissing. This is one of the reasons mate is shared between close friends and family.
Another general rule of drinking yerba mate is that one never says thank-you after finishing a mate unless it is intended to be his or her last drink. Saying thank-you tells the server not to serve that individual another one. The person may remain in the circle but will not be served another mate. It is not rude or impolite to request that the server change the herb if it has lost its flavor or reheat the water if it is not at the desired temperature. Doing so will ensure the mate being served is of premium quality and nothing less.
There are many ways to serve a mate. The server can communicate thoughts to his guests by the way the mate is served. Some of these ways of serving yerba mate and messages include sweet mate (mate with sugar)= friendship and welcome. Mate with cinnamon = I am interested in you. Mate with lemon = I'd rather not see you. Mate with milk = Respectful friendship. Blocked mate = Don't come back, drink somewhere else. Extremely hot mate = I wait your words, as is my love for you. Foamy mate = Mutual love. Mate with molasses = your sadness makes me sad (Mate…p.58).
Health Benefits of Yerba Mate
Not only are there many social benefits from drinking mate but there are also many physical benefits. According to Western Herbal Medicine the mate plant is classified as aromatic, stimulant, aperient (laxative), astingent, diuretic, purgative, sudorific (sweat inducing), and febrifuge (fever reducing). (Yerba Mate: For…p.1) Dr. Daniel Mowrey has done extended research on mate. He stated, "Mate contains numerous vitamins and minerals. There is the usual array of resins, fiber, volatile, oil, and tannins that characterize many plant substances. There is also carotene, vitamins A, C, E, B-1, B-2, and B-complex, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin, magnesium, calcium, iron, sodium, potassium, manganese, silicon, phosphates, sulfur, hydrochloric acid, chlorophyll, choline, and inositol (Yerba Mate: For…p.1). A group of investigators from the Pasteur Institute and the Paris Scientific Society concluded that mate contains almost all of the vitamins necessary to sustain life (Yerba Mate: For…p.1).
Some have questioned the content of caffeine in mate. At first it was thought that mate contained large amounts of caffeine. More recent studies have shown that mate contains very little if any caffeine. Mate does contain mateine. Mateine does belong to the same specialized group of chemical compounds called xanthines. Xanthines are stimulants to the body. Mate does stimulate the central nervous system as does other xanthines, but unlike the others there is no harmful side affects such as jitters or addiction.
Yerba mate is known to enhance mental alertness and increase the efficiency of the digestive tract. It is also said to give drinkers more energy and vitality. It also induces more rapid eye movement (REM) sleep when necessary and increases the amount of time spent in delta states (deep sleep). Therefore reducing the amount of sleep required. Reports have also been given that mate lowers blood pressure and aids in maintaining a healthy weight and even in weight loss. Mate has become a favorite among body builders and anyone interested in the health benefits of exercise.
I think that's enough about the health issues of mate. My personal favorite reason for drinking mate is the social part. As mentioned earlier, yerba mate is always shared with close friends and family. This special drink gives friends time to talk and just enjoy each other's company. Mate gives parents an excuse to talk to children. One doesn't have to be a family psychologist to know that communication in the family is something good.
I personally have shared many good times with close friends while drinking mate. Three of which are Tyson, Tami, and Erica. When we started drinking mate together there was an instant bond of friendship. Don't get me wrong. I don't credit our friendship to this green drink. It was the time we spent talking and really getting to know one another. Including someone in your mate circle is a sign of total acceptance. One author wrote: You share it (mate) with those whom you would share your soul."(Mate Friendships:…p.2)
Bibliography
Craythorne, Tyson, Tami Fri, Erica Shultz. Personal Interview. April 20, 2002
Gardner, Sandra. "Yerba Mate: Drink of the Gods". Sentient Times. Aug. 31, 1998: p.22+
"Mate Production Rises in Argentina." HerbalGram. Feb. 31, 1989: p.9+.
Mowrey, Daniel Ph.D. Yerba Mate: For Better Health. !997
Strandella, Omar. Arte y Cultura: Lituratura Agentina. May 6,1999.
Vairo, Carlos Pedro. Mate Simbolo de amistad. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Zagier & Urruty, 1997
Yerba Mate: Legend of the Guarani Indians. 1997. http://noboarders.net/mate/legend.html
