The mate, our local infusion

The “Mate”, National Beverage of Argentina, is a sort of tea, made with the leaves of the “Yerba Mate” (Ilex paraguariensis), a bush that grows in Northeast of Argentina, Paraguay and South of Brazil. “Mate” contains caffeine, and has diuretic and digestive properties.

It is prepared in a very original way: an empty calabash is partially filled with “yerba mate” and a small amount of hot water, and drunk with a metallic little tube called “bombilla”, with sugar or without it.

Specially in Entre Ríos, the “mate” is an inseparable companion in almost every moment of the day. This habit is, in fact, a distinctive characteristic of Entre Ríos people’s idiosyncrasy.
A “mate” offered to the guest, is, in Entre Ríos, the most traditional hospitality form.

The Northeast “Mate” or “Bitter Mate”

Is used the NE wide calabash or “porongo”.

Procedure:
1) Fill ¾ parts of the calabash with “yerba mate”.
2) Cover the calabash with a hand, and shake it till the “yerba mate” is accumulated in only one side of it.
3) Moisten the “yerba” in that side, spouring cold or lukewarm water before beginning to serve it.
4) Put the “bombilla” in the free side of the calabash, where is not accumulated the “yerba mate”.
5) Spour hot water in the free side, without drench totally the “yerba mate”.
6) Serve keeping the “bombilla” in this side till it lose its flavour.
7) When this happens, carry the “bombilla” to an intermediate point and absorb fresh “yerba” again.
8) Keep the water at constant temperature. It must never boil. The use of a thermic bottle is recommended.
9) Remember: the flavour of the “mate” depends mostly of water temperature.

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