All the buzz around yerba mate…

All the buzz around yerba mate…

Dear Steemians,

What is one of the first things you do in the morning? If the answer is “Drinking a coffee! Obviously” this post is for you.

source

my experience?

During my #solotravel in #Argentina I was #couchsurfing, which enabled me to live with Argentinians (thus avoid staying with tourists;)). I could understand what Yerba mate is and how important it is to their culture.

Matero, a statue (three meters high, made by local artist Gerónimo Rodríguez) of a man preparing to drink yerba mate infusion, in Posadas, Misiones, Argentina.

Ornate yerba mate gourd, the Saavedra Historical Museum, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Yerba mate is traditionally consumed in South America, mostly in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, southern and central-western Brazil, some parts of Bolivia and Chile.

It is said that yerba mate has the strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea and provide the joy of chocolate. I particularly like the last comparison. :)

Its history is pretty impressive. Initially, it was consumed by the Indigenous tribes of South America. In XVI century, along with the conquest of the continent, Europeans “discovered” the Guaraní Tribe of Paraná from today’s Northern Argentina and Tupi People of Southern Brazil. A bizarre herb used by them was yerba mate, and it was an essential part of their culture. As is gained popularity among new settlers, in 1616 mate was banned by Jesuits as they thought it was a demonic drink that led to addiction. By the end of XVIII century, yerba mate was a well-established good exported to Europe, where it was consumed by members of high society and gained its popularity! Sadly, the history of the indigenous tribe ends tragically (as well as the history of the whole continent who was covered with indigenous people’s blood, soon on my blog) - Guaraní civilisation was uprooted. Although yerba mate continued to be present on the markets, at the end of XIX century it was eclipsed by better-marketed coffee and tea industry.
Not so long ago yerba mate regained its global interest.

source

It is said that consuming yerba mate comes with health benefits.

• It is rich in antioxidants (around 90% more than green tea!): therefore, it can slow the signs of aging, detoxify the blood and may! prevent many types of cancer.
• May help reduce stress and insomnia.
• As it contains caffeine, it increases your energy level, clarity and mental focus
• It doesn't cause side effects associated with consuming caffeine, such as headaches, stomach aches, and jitters.
• It may help you in reducing appetite, boosting metabolism and increasing the amount of fat burned for fuel.
However, as I dived into this topic I got the impression that in general there are still a lot of studies that need to be presented to the public.

The importance of the ritual!

Yes, I am a fan of rituals! There is nothing like picnicking with your friends, sharing food and beverage. It may seem strange at first, but hey, just give it a try! After all, when you travel, a participation in a common social practices can only enrich you, right?

The beverage is prepared by filling your mate (a special kind of a vessel) up to three-quarters full with mate plant, and then filling it up with hot but not boiling water (70–80 °C /158–176 °F). Ahhh, important – never stir!
Now all you do is drink it with a metal straw (called bombilla), then refill the water, pass to the next person. And enjoy! :)

And how about you?
* Do you have any thoughts about drinking yerba mate (or coffee)?
* Do you like the idea of sharing your drink with others or you find it disturbing?

Besitos!
Kasia