What is a mate?
It is a traditional South American drink and it can be found in Argentina, Uruguay, parts of Chile and Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil. This caffeine-rich infused drink is made from dried leaves called yerba mate mixed with hot water. Yerba mate leaves are dried chopped and ground into a powder. It is then drunk through a metal straw (traditionally silver) known in Argentina as a Bombilla. Also, the reason why you often see people carrying big thermo flasks when they drink mate it is because they want to keep the water warm as the mate is always refilled several times.
How to make a mate
First step
You start by filling the container until it’s just over half full with the yerba.
Second step
Then place your hand on the top of the half-filled container and turn it upside down and give it a bit of a shake bringing the more powdery leaves to the top. This helps you to not suck up the powdery leaves later on!
Third step
Then turn the container on its side and give it a few more shakes meaning the yerba is on a pile on one side. Add a bit of cool water to help preserve some of the mate.
Fourth step
Then put the bombilla in the empty space in the container trying hard not to disturb the leaves. Pour hot water into the empty space just as you did with the cold water. The water should be about 80 degrees.
Last step
Drink from the bombilla until you drink the entire mate. The person that makes the mate drinks first and then they refill it and pass it to the next person keeping the same bombilla.Keep refilling the container until it loses its taste. It should last for about 10 refills.