There are images that help understand a country. In Argentina, one of them is simple: someone with a thermos under their arm and a mate in their hand. It is in the squares, in the offices, in the universities, on the beach, on road trips and in the Argentine national team concentrations. Also in the hands of Lionel Messi, who took it with him from Rosario to Barcelona, ​​Paris and Miami.

But the mate didn't start with Messi. Not even with the Argentines. Its history is much older, but the dissemination of its benefits and health benefits is more recent. Let's see.

A tradition that was born long before Argentina

Long before the current borders existed, the Guaraní peoples already consumed the leaves of yerba mate. They chewed its leaves or used them to prepare infusions to which they attributed stimulating and medicinal properties.

Over time, the Spanish conquistadors adopted this custom and the drink began to spread throughout much of the South American territory.

During the colonial era, mate accompanied gauchos, travelers and rural workers. It was inexpensive, easy to transport, and offered an extra boost during long days. Over the years it stopped being a regional drink to become a true symbol of national identity.

Mate and Argentine folklore

For those of us who grew up in Argentina, mate is linked to very specific memories. There is an early mate in the kitchen while someone prepares breakfast. Another one that appears on the Sunday family round. There is the mate shared with friends during an endless afternoon of chatting and the one that accompanies the hours of study before an exam.

It is common to see people leaving with a thermos under their arm and, on Argentine routes, service stations sell hot water almost as naturally as they offer fuel.

Mate crosses generations and social classes. It is taken by university students, taxi drivers, executives, retirees and world champion soccer players. It is one of the few customs capable of bringing everyone together around the same round.

Messi and mate: an unexpected ambassador

Although Argentines never needed anyone to explain to them what mate represents, Lionel Messi helped spark the curiosity of the rest of the world. Photographs of the Argentine captain sharing mate with his teammates from Inter Miami or the national team became common.

Players like Luis Suárez, Rodrigo De Paul, Antoine Griezmann and Ángel Di María also helped popularize this custom outside of South America. Suddenly, a drink that many foreigners associated exclusively with Argentina began to appear in press conferences, locker rooms and social networks.

How to drink mate

There are as many ways to prepare mate as there are people who prepare it. However, there are some basic rules:

Then come other equally passionate differences: whether it should be bitter or sweet, with herbs, with orange peel or simply with grass alone.

The art of baiting

In Argentina there is even an unwritten etiquette around mate. The person in charge of preparing it—the cebador—serves each round and offers it to the rest of the group. Whoever receives the mate must drink it completely before returning it.

And there is a rule that any Argentine has known since childhood: you don't appreciate it until you no longer want to drink it. Saying “thank you” too soon can be interpreted as a sign that you are leaving the round.

You can see: The superpowers of yerba mate against overweight

Does mate have health benefits?

In addition to its cultural value, mate provides bioactive compounds that have sparked the interest of the scientific community. Yerba mate contains polyphenols and antioxidants, as well as caffeine, which can help improve alertness and concentration.

Various studies suggest that its compounds could have beneficial effects on metabolism and help reduce oxidative stress. However, specialists remember that there is no miracle drink and that its benefits must be understood within a healthy lifestyle.

It is also important to pay attention to the temperature of the water. Some studies have associated habitual consumption of extremely hot beverages with an increased risk of certain health problems. Therefore, experts recommend avoiding boiling water.

Much more than a drink

Trying to explain mate to someone who has never tried it can be difficult. Because mate is not just an infusion. It's a pause in the middle of the day. It's an excuse to talk. It is company during work or study. It is a silent way of saying: “stay a little longer.”

In the end, flavor matters. But the ritual matters even more.