Friends drinking Yerba Mate in Argentina

Drinking Yerba Mate Requires No Reason

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The familial atmosphere of Yerba Mate

The story of mate in my life begins in adolescence. In fact, it was my brothers, Rocío and Daniel, who got me to first drink yerba mate, at the age of 16. We were in the yard, Daniel playing the guitar and Rocío singing. My dad, little sisters and nephews were closely listening to the music, and I sat by them all, serving and drinking mate as if I had always done it. From them on, drinking mate became a staple of every summer afternoon outside, which I loved because drinking mate meant that we gathered around music, singing, talking and laughing together.

This is my favorite photo. I took it with the cell phone timer. The woman is my best friend, the boy is my godson and we are at Calluqueo Glacier, in Cochrane, Región de Aysén, Chile
This is my favorite photo. I took it with the cell phone timer. The woman is my best friend, the boy is my godson and we are at Calluqueo Glacier, in Cochrane, Región de Aysén, Chile

College and Yerba Mate

While I was in high school (liceana), I didn’t drink mate too often; it was more of something I did during the weekends and holidays. But when I went to college, I became more dependent on it, since I had to study for evaluations and keep active and awake. At the time, I lived with two friends from the north of the Chile. When I would drink mate around them, they would often, without asking, pour sugar into my gourd, causing me to laugh because I don’t like it sweet. But, it was nice to be able to speak with them and take a break from all of the chaos of school.

No matter the reason, the important thing is matear. Here we were inaugurating the roof of the workshop of my friend Alex. Any excuse to drink Yerba Mate is a good one, jajaj
No matter the reason, the important thing is matear. Here we were inaugurating the roof of the workshop of my friend Alex. Any excuse to drink Yerba Mate is a good one, jajaj

The perfect brand of Yerba Mate for me

Until a few years ago, the only type of yerba I consumed was Taragü. Then, I began to suffer from acid reflux, so I searched for alternatives until I came up CBSé. It was perfect for me because it’s smooth, contains different flavors and is very rich in strength. Although, I still do have the smooth version of Piporé at home, for when people come to visit. People here, in Cochrane, generally consume stronger-flavored brands. Taragüi dominates the market, with Piporé following it.

This is the scene of the weekends in the morning at my house, as I live alone, I really enjoy preparing the mate.
This is the scene of the weekends in the morning at my house, as I live alone, I really enjoy preparing the mate.

My daily routine of Yerba Mate

I generally drink mate all day; I have a thermos at my desk, which I refill throughout the work day. After leaving work, I typically meet up with my friend Alex, who works with the law, and we drink mate together, often discussing the day. Sometimes, after leaving Alex, I meet up with my brother and we drink more mate together!

On the weekends, I wake up later than usual, but the first thing I do is to put the pava (kettle) on and matear (drink mate) with some cookies, jam and cheese. If I don’t do that, I typically just meet up wherever Alex is, and we drink mate together.

I really like the mixture of the bitter taste of the mate, with the chocolate candy
I really like the mixture of the bitter taste of the mate, with the chocolate candy

Yerba Mate, the ultimate travel companion

Mate is my travel companion. I like to drink it while driving, on the beach in the summer and on walks, so I always have to have my mate equipment in order to stop and brew up a bitter one.

Mate is the companion of solitude, friendship and family. I’ve always said that I don’t know why I love it so much when it’s so bitter, but, in fact, it is also the taste that contributes to the beauty of Yerba Mate; the environment it generates, the relaxation that ensues when people share it, the fact that in order to truly enjoy mate, you have to stop what you’re doing. To drink mate you must be patient, yes, but what I love most is that you never actually need a reason to drink it, for drinking Yerba Mate just for the sake of drinking it is reason enough.

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