Sunday, March 4, 2007

Origins of the name



Yerba mate (Spanish) or erva mate (Portuguese) (Ilex paraguariensis) is a species of holly (family Aquifoliaceae) native to subtropical South America in Argentina, southern Paraguay, western Uruguay and southern Brazil.

The infusion called mate is prepared by steeping the dry leaves (and twigs) in hot water rather than boiling water like black tea or coffee. It is slightly less potent than coffee and much gentler on the stomach[citation needed]. Drinking mate with friends from a shared hollow gourd (also called a mate in Spanish, or cabaça or cuia in Portuguese) with a metal straw (a bombilla in Spanish, bomba or canudo in Portuguese) is an extremely common social practice in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, eastern Chile and southern Bolivia and Brazil.

Its use has also been introduced into Lebanon and Syria, particularly among the Alawi, Druze and Ismaili minorities. It's a very popular social drink in Salamiyah, Syria.

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2 comments:

agallagher said...

Nice Blog EBeth! I am going to search for some mate here in HK...I will let you know how popular it is or if they have it at all. After a long cup of mate, I will revisit your fab blog and comment more...keep the thoughts coming please

m. bouba said...

@Amy what is the diapearance about. i do not see anymore on this cyber village.
hope you are doing well. did you red EK's poem about the world? i am wondering where has all this been hiding. i am glad the Blogods pushed her to our side.
@Yerba, i love the mate picture. looks very inviting.