Since I´ve made reference to it a few times, I should explain a little about mate (mat-eh). Mate is Argentina´s national caffeine-ish pastime. It´s a blend of ever-so-slighty bitter herbs that makes a tea. The tea is sipped from a silver straw is a gourd, or varying sizes, shapes and materials (everything from metal, ceramic, actual dried gourds, to cloven hooves...).
What´s special about mate, is the ceremony behind it. Argentina has a culture of sharing and community and this is the basis for the tradition of mate. From what I´ve learned (and have fumbled badly many times and many still to come I´m sure), you fill the mate gourd about 3/4full, tapping the gourd to settle the tea. Then with the gourd tilted slightly, you slowly pour in enough hot water to soak the lower half of the tea. When this is saturated, you slide in the straw and set it dep into the gourd. The straw isn´t supposed to be moved from here on (one of my first fumbles: no stirring allowed!) From here, pour the water only into the hole around the straw, so the tea steeps and slowly absorbs the water. Then you top off the gourd with water and serve. Mate is first offered to someone else, who sips until dry and hands it back to you. You then take turns sipping from the refilled gourd, until you have your fill (at which point you say "Gracias" indicating you´re finished). Everyone shares the same straw and the same gourd. And this can go on for quite some time.
I´m not sure how caffeinated the tea is. To be honest, I didn´t realize that it is caffeinated, since I´m pretty sensitive to caffeine. But, I also think it´s a slightly different kind of caffeine, maybe not quite a strong as North American coffee. Regardless, the whole process is really interesting and super relaxing. And a great way to start of the morning, huddling a warm gourd of mate in your hand while you sit in the morning sun. Mmmmmm.
1 comment:
My brother and sister-in-law really got into the Mate when they were living in Paraguay for two years - hay water, I call it.
As I understand it, it is a stimulant, like caffeine, but it's not really caffeine...clear as mud? LOL It's also supposed to be a bit of an appetite suppressant (like others in South America use cocoa leaves to keep them going all day without food), and in the winter in Paraguay, they would drink it hot - cold in the summer.
You need to post some pictures of the variety of Mate cups though - there are some cheesy ones that Corey and Jana brought back with them!
You can also get Mate here - I've seen it in Herb and Spice - but it's usually ridiculously expensive.
Okay, that's enough of my few cents!
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