On November 30th, Argentina celebrates National Mate Day, a tribute to the nation’s cherished infusion and a symbol of Argentine culture and tradition. Established by Law 27.117 enacted on December 17, 2014, this day honors the birth of Andrés Guacurarí y Artigas, also known as “Andresito”, a Guarani leader who significantly promoted the production and distribution of yerba mate during his governance of the province of Misiones from 1815 to 1819.
The Mate Fair
To mark the occasion, the city of Posadas, the capital of the province of Misiones, is hosting the largest event dedicated to mate, with over 40 entrepreneurs, producers, companies, and cooperatives participating at the MATEAR fair organized by the National Institute of Yerba Mate (INYM) with the support of the municipality. Mate, a beverage with deep roots in Argentine society, is more than just an infusion; it embodies national identity, fostering community and friendship.
Yerba mate is present in over 90% of Argentine households, reflecting its status as a unifying tradition among Argentines since the time of Andrés Guacurarí y Artigas. “Drinking mate implies much more than drinking an infusion. Drinking mate is a gesture of friendship, of cordiality; a synonym of meeting that transcends ages and social strata. Also, thanks to its recognized antioxidant and energizing properties, drinking mate also means incorporating a series of health benefits into the body,” INYM stated.
Ancient Origins
The origins of mate date back to the culture of the Guarani people, who consumed yerba mate long before the arrival of the Spanish. The word “mate” comes from the Quechua word “matí”, meaning “gourd”, as historically it was the container from which mate was most commonly consumed. “The conquerors learned from the Guaraníes the use and virtues of yerba mate and made its consumption spread extraordinarily to the point of organizing an intense traffic from its area of origin to the entire Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata,” INYM specified.
Yerba mate is known for its antioxidant properties and contains caffeine, acting as a natural stimulant for the central nervous system. It is rich in vitamins A, C, B1, B complex, and minerals such as iron, potassium, and magnesium, which are beneficial for preventing cramps, especially in athletes. Argentina is the world’s leading producer of yerba mate, accounting for approximately 60% of global production. The production is centralized in the northern region of the Argentine coast, specifically in the provinces of Misiones and Corrientes, occupying an area of around 200,000 hectares.
Yerba mate is exported to various countries and regions worldwide, including Germany, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Spain, the United States, Lebanon, Paraguay, Syria, and Turkey. According to the Rosario Stock Exchange, from 2007 until June of this year, yerba mate exports accumulated 1.1 billion dollars. The act of preparing, sharing, and drinking mate is a social ritual that creates a space for connection and conversation, strengthening family and friendship ties.
Karla Johan, a sommelier and mate specialist, shared a basic step-by-step guide with recommendations for preparing mate, emphasizing that “it is possible to reproduce the national infusion of mate in simple steps”. She advises filling the container three-quarters full with yerba, covering it with the palm of one hand, turning it upside down, and shaking it like a cocktail shaker to mix the powder with other materials. This prevents the straw from getting clogged and the mate from becoming too bitter. Johan recommends tilting the yerba at a 45-degree angle and adding warm water at 40 degrees Celsius to hydrate the powder without burning it. The water in the thermos should be between 75 and 80 degrees Celsius, and the straw is placed before pouring water near it, leaving some dry yerba to enhance the flavor.
While mate is celebrated for its benefits, certain myths persist. The claim that drinking mate causes weight loss is a myth; no foods cause weight loss or gain on their own. Similarly, the notion that mate can replace water is false, as no beverage equals the hydrating function of water. It is important not to add sugar to mate, as it would turn it into a drink that provides empty calories. The idea is to get used to drinking mate bitter or sweetened with a sweetener, and there are different alternatives and ways to drink mate.
On November 30th, Argentina also commemorates the birth of significant figures. Andrés Marcelo “Chapu” Nocioni was born on this day in 1979 in the city of Gálvez, Santa Fe. Nocioni was part of the Golden Generation of Argentine basketball, with which he won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Additionally, November 30th is recognized as Theater Day, commemorating the date in 1783 when the Spanish viceroy Juan José de Vértiz y Salcedo ordered the creation of the Teatro de la Ranchería, the first theater hall in Argentina.
