8 Comments
User's avatar
Green Leap Forward's avatar

I love mate and have memories of drinking it in the parks in Argentina only to have a group of mate drinkers invite me over to join them.

Expand full comment
BowTiedMara's avatar

Classic! Yeah it's such a great way to meet new people

Expand full comment
Xoabop's avatar

Looking for the most potent mate brand, i.e. helps me grind late at night.

I bought some the fruit "flavored" CBSe mate and they're pretty good.

For maximum buzz do I just put hot water in there and let it soak? - tastes bitter to me whether it's 171 degrees to 212 degrees.

I've heard Rosemonte, La Merced, Union are very good for that.

Personal experience, what do you think?

Expand full comment
BowTiedMara's avatar

I like Playadito a lot, ideally the water temperature should be at 80 degrees Celsius, to avoid burning the yerba (which makes it more bitter). You let it soak for a few minutes, drink, and repeat until the yerba is "lavado", which means that there's almost no more taste coming off and you're close to drinking more water vs mate. That is the point where you refresh the yerba and repeat the process.

Expand full comment
Xoabop's avatar

I need to give Playadito a try. It's reasonably priced too.

Right now I'm totally jittery on Canarias and it's a bit too potent for me...

Expand full comment
BowTiedGlobe's avatar

Great post, Mara! A couple of addendums from my side:

- Tereré is also very popular in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Paranaenses also drink it with lemon, pineapple or mint. And it makes sense, as it's hotter there than in Rio Grande do Sul

- Chá Mate (hot toasted mate) is quite popular too and found all across Brazil

- The real good OG bombas (bombilla in Spanish) are made of metal alloys with silver or gold, materials that are germicidal and bactericidal. Cheap bombas aren't and are therefore less hygienic

Expand full comment
BowTiedMara's avatar

Thanks Globe, and also for the additions! True, I forgot to mention the materials - I definitely prefer the metal versions vs calabaza/wood mates

Expand full comment
BowTiedGlobe's avatar

A small curiosity: I was once drinking mate in Europe, when a Lebanese friend of mine went to me and said "oh cool you have mate"

I asked him from where he knew what that was, and apparently, they also drink it in Lebanon! Not only with water, but also with milk

That was a big surprise to me, but considering that there are more Lebanese descendants in Brazil than there are people in Lebanon, it makes sense that part of Brazilian culture would be imported back there

Anyway, great content as always :)

Expand full comment