The Jetpacker

You see it everywhere in Buenos Aires.  Street vendors sell it near subway stations.  Groups of people gather to share it in public parks.  But what the heck is it?

It’s called mate (pronounced mah-tay) and it’s a drink made of brewed yerba plant leaves that have been dried and chopped into a powder.  The mixture is packed into a hollowed out gourd (confusingly called a mate) and mixed with hot but not boiling water.

The result is a completely unappealing-looking green mush.  After a few minutes of steeping, the liquid is slurped through a bombilla, which is a metal straw with tiny holes that filters out the chunks.

Despite its off-putting appearance, mate is more popular than coffee and tea… and it just so happens to taste like a combination of the two drinks.  The yerba infused water has a pungent, slightly bitter taste with earthy/woody notes, creating a taste that I can only imagine is comparable to licking hot water off an oak tree.  After a few sips, my throat felt a little smoky and dry as if I took a few puffs from a cigarette.

As unappetizing as that may sound, mate is surprisingly tasty.  No, it’s not really refreshing, but as the leaves soak and more of the leafy flavor is extracted, the bitterness fades and a natural, soothing flavor that warms the body comes through.

South Americans drink mate often because they say it’s good for the long-term health of your body and soul.  But we think mate is also popular because of its short-term effects.  Mate is naturally caffeinated, providing an instant burst of energy and alertness similar to strong coffee or an energy drink.  But unlike coffee or an energy drink, a cup of mate leaves can last up to a week by re-using them and simply adding hot water.  So not only is mate tasty and helpful when you’re running on empty, it’s also inexpensive.