Yerba Mate in Argentina: A Cultural Reflection and Projection through a Popular Pastime

Abstract

<p>Yerba mate is a popular tea-like beverage widely consumed in many South American countries, including Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. Originally discovered and consumed by Paraguayan natives, mass production of yerba mate did not begin until the arrival of the Spanish in the sixteenth century. Its cultivation techniques developed over time, allowing production to spread to other countries including Argentina, today´s largest producer of yerba mate. In Argentina, yerba mate has evolved from simply being a stimulating beverage into a clear reflection of the country’s culture and values. The uses of yerba mate in Argentine literature – Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, tango lyrics – demonstrate the beverage’s importance to everyday life and societal norms. Further connections between yerba and Argentine culture include straw-sharing with tactile communication, appetite-suppression with high beauty standards, and caffeine content with busy city life and laborious country work. These ideas are explored in this paper in order to assert that yerba mate’s own qualities project key aspects of Argentine culture, solidifying its continued popularity for years to come.</p>