Traditionally, it has been used as a stimulant, digestive aid, and tonic for depression and pain. The Guaraní people of South America have long regarded yerba maté as a drink associated with health, vitality, and long life. This informal ritual is considered to be an act of bonding, friendship, and hospitality. In fact, as more water is added, the strength of the maté tends to increase. It is common for the hot water in the gourd to be refilled several times, allowing everyone to indulge. In fact, this initial serving of maté has a name: “maté del zonzo,” or “maté of the fool.”Īfter the person preparing the maté has confirmed that the flavor, temperature, and strength are good, the gourd is passed counterclockwise among the group. This is because the maté may be the wrong temperature or strength, and it would be considered poor manners to serve badly prepared maté to guests. Additionally, the person who brews and serves the maté must take the first sip before passing it along to others. In South America, the same gourd and straw is used by everyone partaking in the beverage. It is important to note that there are some etiquette “rules” surrounding maté consumption. Today, it is still extremely common to see local people sipping maté from the iconic gourd cups throughout South America, especially in small group settings. Maté tea’s influence spread to Europe too, where it quickly became all the rage. Soon, everyone from Argentine gauchos of the Pampean plains to the effete oligarchy of South America were imbibing in the drink.
While they may not have found success with their search for precious metals, they had discovered an equally valuable commodity– Yerba Maté, or as the Guaraní Indians called it, “the drink of the gods.” Noticing that the maté tea seemed to be the source of the Guaraní Indians’ energy, it was not long before the Spanish were partaking in the beverage themselves.
The explorers enlisted the help of the local Guaraní people in their quest for gold and silver, and were amazed at how the Indian workers remained so unwearied. Spanish explorers were the first Europeans to sample maté tea, when they traveled to Paraguay searching for precious metals in the late 1500’s. They would also use this special time to talk and socialize with their family, friends, and neighbors. Then, they would pass the gourd in a circle, as each person sipped through a filtered straw. During this ritual, participants would brew the tea and then pour it into a hollowed-out gourd. Traditionally, maté was consumed by partaking in a special ritual. Not only was maté an important part of the Guaraní people’s history from a medicinal perspective, but from a social and community perspective, too.
The Guaraní Indians of the Paraná River in South America have consumed yerba maté for centuries, praising it for its healing properties. Tea drinkers can find both pure yerba maté, as well as maté tea blends using these and other add-ins. Maté’s natural flavor profile is complemented by ingredients such as cocoa, nuts, peppermint, or fruit pieces. In South America, maté was known by indigenous peoples as “the drink of the gods,” and it has earned a reputation as a “super drink” around the globe.ĭue to its high concentration of tannins, yerba maté has a bitter flavor, but with very rich and complex undertones ranging from nutty to woody to smoky. It is available in both full-leaf loose form and in tea bags, and can be enjoyed on its own or with a splash of steamed milk for a tasty yerba maté latte. Maté is considered to be a mild alternative to coffee, with more caffeine than most teas but without the unwanted jitters and other side effects of coffee. It is dried, shredded and aged for a year in cedar containers before becoming yerba maté. Maté is cultivated from the leaves and young twigs of the maté tree. South Americans have sipped the energy-boosting brew for centuries, and over the years its popularity has spread to various points around the globe. Maté is derived from a South American herb grown primarily in the subtropical rainforests of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
0 kommentar(er)
