Welcome back tiktakers!
We all enjoy foods and drinks which are both delicious and healthy, and it's been a while
since we've shared any in our videos... so let's change that now!
Today we'll be talking about one of the most well-known and traditional beverages in Argentina.
Do you have any idea what it could be?
We'll give you a few seconds... well?
Today we'll be talking about mate!
This is the most popular infused beverage in the country, although it's also
common in Uruguay, Paraguay, and certain regions of Bolivia, Chile and
Brazil.
This infusion is prepared with yerba mate, scientifically known as Ilex
Paraguariensis.
This plant originated in the basins of the Paraná, Paraguay and
Uruguay rivers, within the territories composed by northern Argentina,
Paraguay, and southern Brazil.
Mate was originally prepared by the native Guaraní people, who would use the
yerba mate leaves as a drink, as an object of worship, and as a tradeable
currency with other towns.
For the Guaraní people, the yerba mate tree is the
best tree of its kind – a gift from the gods.
And eventually, foreigners and locals learned about the many benefits of
this plant, and exported it to their corresponding hometowns.
Spanish speakers usually call this beverage mate, but did you know that in
Argentina, that's also how they call the container they use to drink the infusion?
And the final result, the brew that you actually drink, can only be prepared
after a process that can last even years!
However, the process is very natural: The yerba mate is cultivated, harvested, dried
up, then it's left to settle for a few months, and finally, it's ground and packed
up.
Argentina is the main producer and exporter of mate, and in the year 2020 the
production of ground yerba mate, packed to be sold within the country, reached
268.8 million kilograms!
And a lot of mate is exported abroad as well, tiktakers.
In 2019 alone, 39 million kilograms were exported to other countries
such as Syria, Chile, Lebanon, the United States, and Spain.
This isn't surprising given the many health benefits mate has: For instance,
since it contains caffeine, mate is a natural stimulant perfect to kick-start your
morning.
It also has anti-oxidants which help reduce our cholesterol levels, it
stimulates our central nervous system, it's packed with many vitamins and
minerals, and has many other health benefits too, tiktakers!
Now, aside from its health benefits, in many places in South America drinking
mate is something that goes beyond consuming something healthy: It's a reason
to get together, to chat, and form friendships.
It's something so culturally entrenched that, even if you were riding the
metro in Madrid, and saw someone drinking mate there, that would make you think
of Argentina.
And if you feel like trying out a bit of mate after watching this video, then
remember that if you are going to prepare some, the water cannot be boiling –
it must be around 80 degrees Celsius.
And then, depending on where you are and your particular tastes, it can be consumed
in different ways.
The most common way to drink it in Argentina is using
a "bombilla", which is a special metal straw.
And whether you decide to drink your mate cold, hot, made from a
baggy, or prepared traditionally, it's up to you tiktakers!
We are certainly not experts in mate, so share with us in the comments
any other curious facts you might know about this infused beverage.
We'll be reading them!