Brits think Yerba Mate is a drug!

Only ever had a few sucks of it and thought it was bloody awful. Might taste better if you're on drugs though.

A South African girl I met recently wanted to take a sip of mate even if I explained her that it was NOT hallucinogenic. She was kind of deceived. She was hoping for something more exotic than a sip of bitter drink.

I drink mate veery day, usually for breakfast and sometimes even in the afternoon. I don't share it (never have, never will) and it took me years to develop a taste for mate. I was a little faster with coffee, but I remember "forcing" myself with coffee at first just to look like an adult. I was 18 or 19 years old and a freshman.

I never pushed through my first dislike of coffee, serafina , and I’m afraid I’ve had the same lack of interest in developing a taste for mate. Whenever I’ve been pushed to have either one, I just think “I could be enjoying a blissful cup of tea!”

Well YESSSSS. Obvio.

Quote from Splinter

Or even Malbec.

Tea and Malbec are both nice for different reasons. But rather than a beverage, mate is for many people an accompaniment. I'm not sure if it is, in this sense, similar to coffee in the US.

When I first came here it was usual to see people sitting outside sharing a mate with friends...even groups of young ones in the squares. It doesn't seem to be as common a sight now. I wonder if its popularity is waning?

Quote from Splinter

I should start drinking mate again because it used to give me a very pleasant buzz and I'm sure it's healthier than coffee.

My wife doesn't put sugar in hers. I have a sweet tooth which probably explains why I can't stand the stuff. I was offered some by a workman we had in who used sugar but as the bombilla was covered in weeks old dirt and grime I refused.

I drink mate unsugared. It is less strong on my belly than coffee and I can drink one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Coffee used to give me a high but then the down made me sleepy. Mate seems to be more consistent. And then it fades the more you sip, so it gets weaker and weaker.

Is there naturally-occurring caffeine in mate?

Quote from Splinter

Indeed it does.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/…gical-sciences/yerba-mate

And then some studies say it causes cancer. They used to say that about white bread many years ago.

They say that about anything you put down your throat....shit and urine seem to be okay though!!

Hello everybody,

Yerba Maté , grown in the region of Misiones and the neighbouring areas of Paraguay and Brazil, is an

important crop.

It looks like a mulberry tree, and is in extensive fields alternating with tea bushes. There are large drying hangars

that stand empty for most of the year.

The active ingredient is caffeine, though it was asserted for a long time that this was a different molecule called Mateine.

In and around Oberà there are many Maté conditioners, so the shops have all the varieties.

Incidentally, the tea produced in Misiones is used extensively in 'iced tea' drinks and...Coca Cola

This is due to its limpidity when chilled. It is high in anti oxidants.

The biggest importer by population is Syria and it's neighbours.

It is available in France and Germany to my knowledge.

I'm off to mow my meadow...( no dog)

Cordialement,

Thanks, Sarran1955 . I hope your meadow was successfully mowed after you very thoughtfully took the time to write this mate tutorial!

Quote from Sarran1955

Incidentally, the tea produced in Misiones is used extensively in 'iced tea' drinks and...Coca Cola

Interesting! I visited Oberá last October and I loved walking in the tea field. The day was grey with a fine rain...very British! I saw hares' holes in the ground and there was nobody except me and the machine harvesting tea leaves.

The mate tree used in farming is purposely kept short so that it is easy to collect leaves. Whereas in nature it is a very tall tree and indigenous people used to climb them to collect mate.

I bought about 18 brands of mate when I visited. Some were made in Corrientes, which I didn't know had a mate tradition. It was interesting to see mate from Corrientes sold in Iguazú. I liked it very much.

I was explained that the plant is the same, the curing is what determines the different flavors across brands. I don't have a favored brand, so far.

My last mate packed was Jardín de la flor and it was pleasant but faded quickly. I am now drinking Indumar.

I had no idea, serafina , that there were discernible differences. I may have to give it another try!

Rice , consider it like coffee. Once you develop a palate for it, you can discern good from bad and have your favorites!

Smoked mate (barbacuá) is stronger, average mate is just mate, softer mate is "suave" and then there is flavored mate (mixed with herbs, fruits, coffee etc.)

I’d have to go with suave. But let’s not hold our collective breath, remembering my failure to develop a taste for coffee.