Have you ever wondered how we got addicted to caffeine? How caffeinated drinks became part of our lives? A way to get focused work done and to bring people together. Everyone knows about the coffee story, but what about yerba mate? How did it become popular? The magical plant was first discovered in Latin America long before the Spanish and Portuguese conquerors came to the continent (some claim it goes back to 3000 B.C.). Let’s explore how this herb turned into a drink that many people enjoyed throughout history in Latin America and many more around the world yet to discover its benefits.
How it all started
Although many different indigenous groups consumed yerba mate (e.g., the Kaingang ate the raw leaves during 3000 B.C.), the Guarani people, an indigenous group resided in the center of South America (modern day Paraguay and parts of Argentine, Bolivia, and Brazil), are the ones that popularized how it is consumed today. They mixed hot water with the leaves and drank it from the gourd using straws made of sugar cane. They considered the drink as a gift from God. They believed in the nutrition and health benefits of the drink. The myth says that they also used it for medical purposes.
Also, the Guarani people popularized the name of the herb. The origins of the word “Yerba mate” is what they called in Guarani “Caa-mate”, where “Caa” means “herb” and “mate” means “gourd”.
How it evolved
The arrival of the Jesuits in South America in the 17th century introduced a new wave for yerba mate. The Jesuits pioneered the cultivation and transportation of yerba mate at a commercial scale. They exported the herb to the rest of the continent. They also discovered that the herb is very difficult to grow anywhere else in the world. This is because the seeds were predigested by tropical birds in Central and South America, which was confirmed later by French botanist Aimé Bonpland.
How it is today
Today, yerba mate grows in Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil where the soils and temperature are ideal for the plant. Argentina is considered the largest producer and exporter of yerba mate in the world making up almost 60% of the world’s production. It is also the largest consumer of the plant with 90% of the households consuming it and is only after water in terms of consumption.
It is also widely consumed in other parts of the continent, as well as Europe and parts of the Middle East (e.g., Syria and Lebanon) as South Americans brought the tradition with them to these countries.
At Jabali, we are excited to share the benefits of this magical plant to the region. We are proud to be the first functional beverage made of yerba mate in the region. Share your reviews and comments with us at @bejabali.