Yerba mate is a delicious herbal drink with a long list of health benefits and an even longer history. But what is the story behind mate, and what makes this drink loved by thousands of people around the world?
The Origins of Yerba Mate: The Guaraní People
The history of yerba mate dates back to the Guaraní people, a group of indigenous people from South America who were the first to discover the amazing properties of mate. There is a beautiful Guaraní legend about how mate came into being:
One day, the Sun told the Moon about all the beauty of the jungle that the moonlight could not see at night – the colorful birds, the lush leaves, and the stunning flowers. The Moon was curious and one day decided to visit Earth in the form of a young woman. She went into the jungle, admired it, and explored, but she was unaware of the dangerous predators, and a jaguar attacked her. However, the Moon was lucky and was saved by a hunter from the Guaraní tribe. She was so grateful that she gave the Guaraní people the gift of mate, which they greatly appreciated.
For the Guaraní, mate was not just a drink; it had spiritual significance, and they considered it a gift from the gods. They chewed the raw leaves or placed them in a calabash filled with water and drank the infusion. Other groups, such as the Incas, Charrúa, and Araucans, adopted mate from the Guaraní people across the continent.
The Influence of Colonizers
The passion for yerba mate spread and soon reached the Spanish colonizers of South America. However, it was the Jesuits who turned mate into an industry. The missionaries began cultivating the herb in the late 17th century. They hoped that its health benefits and social significance would make mate a welcome substitute for alcohol.
Very quickly, mate became the most profitable industry on the missions, sold everywhere from Buenos Aires to Peru. The colonizers even brought mate to Europe, trying to grow it on their own land. To their surprise, they discovered that Ilex paraguariensis, the mate tree, only thrives in certain subtropical regions of South America – said to be a form of nature's revenge that the Spaniards did not expect.
Yerba Mate in Argentine Folklore
Yerba mate played another significant role in South America's fight for freedom. It became a powerful symbol in Argentine folklore when it was adopted by the gauchos – Argentine riders or cowboys – who played a key role in the independence movement of the 19th century. The gauchos became a symbol of the fight against corruption and defenders of national traditions, with mate being their signature drink. It was not only an important part of their diet, but also a popular social activity. Cowboys drank mate all day long: for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even before going to bed.
Mate Today
Today, mate is grown only in Paraguay, Argentina, and parts of Brazil, but it has many fans around the world. Mate is the official national drink of Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay. It is also an essential part of everyday life, from popular culture to many social rituals and practices. There are a whole range of social rules and etiquette associated with drinking mate, and the ritual of sharing a calabash of mate is an important experience for many people in Latin America.
Now that you know the rich history of yerba mate, try it for yourself and experience this gift from the gods firsthand!