What is mate?
Q: What is mate?
A: Mate is a traditional drink in some countries in South America, made by an infusion of dried leaves of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis). It contains mateine, which is an analog of caffeine.
Q: How is mate usually served?
A: Mate is usually drunk with friends and served in a hollow calabash gourd with a "Bombilla", a special metallic drinking straw. The gourd can be called either a mate or guampa, and in Brazil it's known as cuia.
Q: Is there another way to drink mate?
A: Yes, there are now modern "tea-bag" type infusions of mate called mate cocido which have been sold in Argentina for many years. They are drunk from a cup and sold under such trade names as "Cruz de Malta" (Maltese Cross) and in Brazil under the name "Mate Leão" (Lion Mate).
Q: What does the bombilla do?
A: The bombilla acts as both a straw and sieve - the end which is placed in the drink has small holes or slots that let the brewed liquid in but block any chunky matter that makes up much of the mixture. A modern bombilla uses a straight tube with holes or spring sleeve to act as a sieve.
Q: Where else besides South America is it common to drink mate?
A: In some areas of the Middle Eastern countries of Syria and Lebanon it is also common to drink mate. This custom came from Arab emigrants from South America. Syria is actually the world's biggest importer of yerba mate each year, importing 15,000 tons annually.
Q: What does 'bombilla' mean?
A: Bombilla means "light bulb" in Spanish, but locally it's referred to as "little pump" or "straw".
