Mate is not just a beverage. Well... yes it is because there is liquid that enters in your mouth, but is not just a beverage. In Argentina nobody drinks mate just because they are thirsty, it is actually a habit, like watching football. The Mate is exactly the opposite of watching TV: it makes you talk if you are with someone in the same room, and makes you think when you are alone. When someone arrives at any Argentinean home, the first thing they say is “Hello” followed by… “want mate?”
This happens in most homes, from the richest to the poorest, between the extravagant women to the simplest ones, between serious man and immature ones, between old people and teenagers while they study.
It is one of the things that parents share with their children without fighting, during winter or summer; the only thing in common between victims and executioners, the good ones and the bad ones.
When you have a child you start giving mate as soon as he asks you. You prepare with caution making sure is not too hot and with tons of sugar so he likes it, and then they will feel as grown ups. You feel proud when they start drinking mate, you heart feels like pumping harder and harder. Then when time passes by, they will grow up and will choose how to drink it, sour, sweet, or extremely hot, with orange peel or lemon.
When you meet someone for the first time and drink mate, you will ask: sugar o sour? And then he will answer: just the way you drink it!
This happens in most homes, from the richest to the poorest, between the extravagant women to the simplest ones, between serious man and immature ones, between old people and teenagers while they study.
It is one of the things that parents share with their children without fighting, during winter or summer; the only thing in common between victims and executioners, the good ones and the bad ones.
When you have a child you start giving mate as soon as he asks you. You prepare with caution making sure is not too hot and with tons of sugar so he likes it, and then they will feel as grown ups. You feel proud when they start drinking mate, you heart feels like pumping harder and harder. Then when time passes by, they will grow up and will choose how to drink it, sour, sweet, or extremely hot, with orange peel or lemon.
When you meet someone for the first time and drink mate, you will ask: sugar o sour? And then he will answer: just the way you drink it!
Even the Argentinean keyboards have remains of Yerba Mate.
There always will be Yerba Mate in every house no matter if there is inflation in the economy, with democratic governments or dictatorships. Yerba Mate will always persist in every house. And if one day you run out of yerba, you’ll just ask a neighbor and he will be more than glad to share with you. Yerba mate can’t be denied by anyone.
In Argentina you won’t become an adult because you start wearing make up, or move from your parent’s house, even if you’ve graduated from university; you become a grown up when you have the necessity of drinking mate on your own, alone. It is not a coincidence, not just because. The day comes when one decides to heat water and prepare the firt mate for oneself , with no one else in the house. It will not be an ordinary day, not anymore.
There always will be Yerba Mate in every house no matter if there is inflation in the economy, with democratic governments or dictatorships. Yerba Mate will always persist in every house. And if one day you run out of yerba, you’ll just ask a neighbor and he will be more than glad to share with you. Yerba mate can’t be denied by anyone.
In Argentina you won’t become an adult because you start wearing make up, or move from your parent’s house, even if you’ve graduated from university; you become a grown up when you have the necessity of drinking mate on your own, alone. It is not a coincidence, not just because. The day comes when one decides to heat water and prepare the firt mate for oneself , with no one else in the house. It will not be an ordinary day, not anymore.
The purpose of the mate is nothing else than a demonstration of values, it is the solidarity, the respect for listening and being listened – you drink and he talks. It is the companionship; you will pour a mate and ask: is it hot? It is the modesty of who pours the best mate. It is the generosity of drinking ‘till the last zip. It is the hospitality of the invitation. It is the justice of “one to one”. It is the duty of saying “thanks” at least once in a day. It is the ethic, loyal and sincere attitude of gathering together with no intention other than sharing.
Anonymous author
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Greetings!
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