Saturday, May 16, 2009

Yerba Mate in Argentina

Still Life with Yerba Mate in Buenos Aires, Argentina
How can you possibly tell that you're actually in the Rio de la Plata area? Oh, you had a steak for breakfast and afterwards you were dancing tango? You're kidding me, right? That's fine but this is not what I was up to. It's the yerba mate that makes the point. Drinking the traditional brew of leaves from the yerba mate plant is a good indicator for telling that you are probably either in Buenos Aires, Montevideo or in between. Mate as it shortly called, is the quasi-national drink of Argentina and adjoining countries.
Have you ever had yerba mate?

7 comments:

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

I have several mate gourds that we brought back from Buenos Aires to Arizona, but I never actually drank mate while we were there.

Actually, we brought back mate gourds for everyone in our office in Arizona who works for us. Sadly, someone stole the one on my secretary's desk. The left valuable electronics, comuter, etc., but stole the mate gourd.

Sharon said...

I have never tried it but I saw plenty of people enjoying it when I visited BA.

Buenos Aires Photoblog said...

Yerba mate tastes bitter, so I guess it won't be everybody's favorite. In addition, it is too different from tea. I recently read that yerba mate might protect you against oral cancer.

Julie ScottsdaleDailyPhoto.com said...

I love the Recoleta cemetery. It is full of interesting art. And I really enjoyed mate. a very traditional and energizing drink

valeria said...

I have! I have! An old friend from Buenos Aires had (obviously!) his Yerba Mate cup and packs of herb!

Bim said...

Yes...but I wasn't determined enough to give up my morning coffee...

Buenos Aires Photoblog said...

And that is quite understandable; There is no life before a good cup of coffee. Btw, yerba mate has a lot of caffeine, too.