Mate is a popular drink in South America. Especially in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil.

Mate and South America

Mate is a popular drink in South America. Especially in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil . Mainly known for its energizing and slimming properties, mate is drunk in a container (the calabash) using a filtering straw (the bombilla).

Mate remains the companion of many South Americans' moments of rest, conviviality and inspiration because it is definitively rooted in their history, their culture and their habits. It has become a national symbol in several South American countries such as Argentina and Uruguay .

In these countries, being invited to share a mate is a gesture of sharing and conviviality. You thus enter a circle of friendship.

To learn more, go to What is mate?

Mate from Uruguay

Originating from Paraguay and northern Argentina, the ancient Guarani populations introduced mate to the Spanish colonizers, in fact this led to a popularization of this drink in neighboring regions including Uruguay . More than anyone else, Uruguayans have kept the main symbolism of mate, sharing .

This was the character that the Guaranis had given to mate, making this drink a ritual to create bonds of friendship and family . Mate having become so popular in Uruguay, Uruguayans have become real supporters of the use of Mate Thermos , allowing them to be able to drink it everywhere and all the time.

Although being the largest consumer of mate in the world, Uruguay does not produce its own mate, instead bringing mate directly from their neighbors Argentina or Brazil.

Argentinian mate

Mate is a national drink in Argentina the leaf is generally harvested in the northeast of the country, in the most productive provinces Misiones and Corrientes

The history of mate in Argentina goes back to the time of the Indians when the Spaniards arrived on the land. The Guarani Indians were already consumers of mate. They subsequently exploited this wild plant for trade.

It was over time that the consumption of mate increased, first throughout Argentina but also subsequently in other countries such as Uruguay, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay.

In Argentina, mate is a national custom which is consumed at all times in the countryside and in the cities, by the wealthiest and the poorest. it is a drink that brings together all Argentinians whether they are from different social classes or from multiple geographical areas.

URUGUAY VS ARGENTINA

Each country in South America has their own type of mate with their own specificity. Uruguayan mate and Argentine mate have many similarities, particularly in their maturing time. In fact, the mate from these two countries is matured for an average of 9 months in order to concentrate the taste as much as possible.

Despite the similarities, the mate of these two countries is still greatly different. Notably due to the fact that Uruguayan mate does not contain stems; it consists only of leaves and powder, which gives it a more pronounced taste while Argentinian mate prioritizes the superior quality of their mate .

But despite these differences, mate still reveals a common and inescapable value: SHARING