Mate
Drinking mate is a tradition that does not appear to be catching on outside the general vicinity of Argentina. It’s something few people in the United States have ever heard of, let alone tried. But it is also certainly not dying out here. The invasion of US-produced sodas and exercise drinks seems to have had no effect on this traditional drink’s popularity. Somehow, mate has become ingrained in modern Argentine life. Attorneys drink it, storekeepers drink it, the towel guy at my gym drinks it.
Mate is a tea-like beverage sipped from a gourd through a metal straw. You can drink it solo, but it’s better to share it. When it's drunk with a group of people, the mate is passed around the circle like a peace pipe.
For a foreigner, mate can present a real challenge. It’s about as hard to drink mate like a native as it is to speak the language like a native. Every step along the way, there are things you are likely to do wrong.
Here are some common errors of mate initiates:
Mate is a tea-like beverage sipped from a gourd through a metal straw. You can drink it solo, but it’s better to share it. When it's drunk with a group of people, the mate is passed around the circle like a peace pipe.
For a foreigner, mate can present a real challenge. It’s about as hard to drink mate like a native as it is to speak the language like a native. Every step along the way, there are things you are likely to do wrong.
Here are some common errors of mate initiates:
1. Prepare the gourd of mate and then offer the first sip to a companion. It is not polite to give somebody else the first batch, because it is more harsh than those that follow.
2. Pour yourself some mate if you didn’t start out preparing the mate. One person holds the thermos and prepares mate for the others. When the mate is empty, it goes back to the first person for refill.
3. Drain the mate only part way. When given a mate full of yerba and water, you should drain the whole thing, then give it back to the preparer.
4. Refer to the yerba as mate. Yerba is the tea-like substance that goes into the gourd. The gourd is known as the mate, which is also the name for the activity. (It’s not like “coffee” or “tea,” where the substance imbibed is also the name for the activity.) The metal straw is known as a bombilla.
5. Boil the water when preparing mate. Water for mate should not reach a boil. This is said to detract from the flavor.
6. Prepare somebody mate without asking them if they take it dulce (with sugar) or amargo (without sugar). Groups of people seem to all do it one way or another, and doing it the wrong way marks you as an outsider. Most people we know seem to scorn those who drink their mate with sugar.
7. Ask for somebody to serve (servir) you some mate. Mate is not served – there is a special word that specifically to serving mate, and only mate: cebar. If you want a friend to serve you some mate, say “cebame.”
8. Fill the mate with the wrong amount of yerba. A surprising amount of yerba goes into the mate. You should fill it at least 2/3 full – but the exact amount depends on the type of mate.
9. Take a sip of water between mates. What? Are you crazy!!? Mate and water??
10. Don’t say “thank you” after finishing your first drink of mate. Saying ”thank you,” by custom, is how you signal that you don’t want any more.previously there was Cheapskate heaven
afterwards you have Looking Argentinecomments
giarci heard they are starting quarter mate nights at the uphill. next time i go there i'll have these notes scribbled onto the palm of my hand as to not offend as easily as i normally would. [submitted on 15 Mar 03]add a comment
