The Wonder of Mate

I thought I would very quickly explain why the title of this blog is what it is. At first glance it appears completely irrelevant and one would probably question why I have avoided every possible Argentinean stereotype (Let's Get Messi and The Hand of Blog were close contenders). However I decided to go with something that has epitomised Argentinean culture from the moment I landed to the moment I write this post....

The Elements

The Mate.

Just to get it out the way, 'The Mate' is not the bloke you go down the pub with or that person you vaguely know that you bump into in a club. In Argentina, 'The Mate' is life. Mate is a hot drink that is consumed at all times of the day, no matter the activity or social occasion.

In class? Mate.

With your friends? Mate.

Driving? Mate.

It's nuts how crazy everyone here is about this drink. But what is it?

*Factual Education Incoming*

 It's a herbal drink made up of 'yerba' that unsurprisingly comes from the Yerba Mate Plant (shock horror). It is drank piping hot and is compromised in a delicate process of putting the herb in a rounded wooden cup-like thing before pouring hot water (not boiling but 'mate' temperatures - it's on kettles here..) and drinking through a metallic straw. Sounds chilled but you mess up one of those elements and you have a group of pissed off Argentineans on your hands.

The drink is consumed in groups, and one person holds the flask (the power). The hot water is poured on the yerba and it is passed to someone. They drink it all and pass it back to the flask-holder, who repeats the pouring and passes to a new member. It is very important not to say 'Gracias' when returning the mate cup unless you don't want anymore later on. This is especially hard for us English and our incessant manners.

First Taste of Mate Face

On first try, it tastes like s**t - no two ways about it - but the longer you're in Argentina, the more you like it before Mate addict syndrome soon hits in full force. Soon you'll be twitching in public places looking for the flask of hot water. This is partly because of the 24/7 routine of drinking it and partly due to the ridiculously high caffeine levels it contains.

The Mate is my Best Mate Face

So there you have it. It sounds weird but if you come to Argentina (or Uruguay) I would be shocked if you don't encounter Mate in the first 24 hours. It's everywhere. The title of this blog is a (poor) attempt at a bit of cultural blending between our 'mate' and their 'mate' - which is most important is probably an impossible question to answer. In Argentina, mate is love, mate is life.

Thanks for reading.