Yerba maté, the national drink, and my new remedy for all nighters

You know how people are always looking for that something unique, that something about a far away land that brings you back in time, brings you far away..Well, in BA you don't find a lot of those. I am not living in a jungle, or in a 3rd world country. This is a huge delveloped city with Starbucks, McDonalds and Microsoft.

But then there's maté. I'll relay what I've learned about this awesome tradition as best I can, but for a quick brain teaser I'll give the short description: It's a form of infusion (like loose tea, but stronger) that you drink out of a pipe. Yeah, it's definitely that something unique you're looking for.

What it is: Maté is the nationa drink of Argentina but it is enjoyed all over south america. The short history lesson we were given was that when the Spainards came to South America, they noticed the indigenous drinking this infusion of the powdery yerba and heated water. They saw that the peopele were strong and imagined the drink to have some healing or altering properties and began drinking it too. Turns out it was just a healthy dose of mateine - been linked to caffine, keeps you awake but is supposedly healthier! Imagine loose tea, but more raw in a sense. There are hundreds of varieties, ranging from the milder softer version to the strong dark teas. The leaves and twigs that make up this concoction is called Yerba. The bowl is the "mate." There is a small finely filtered straw that tapers off on the end much like a smoking pipe called the "bombilla."

When to drink it: Anytime really, but most often with company - although we were told around finals week everyone uses it as their energy drink. Traditionally the host prepares mate, and the visiting friend brings dulces, little pastries and cookies.

What you need: A mate with bombilla, some yerba, azucar to taste (sugar..not traditional but makes it taste better), lots of hot water and a friend ( or twenty)

Step-by-step: There are many differences in how peopel make mate, and no set way or order to do things but very basically, you fill the mate with yerba (add sugar if you like at this time) and pour very hot, but not boiling water over it. If you are the host and will be preparing the mate, you are the "cerbador." After preparing your mate, you pass it to the next drinker, bambillo facing them. It's polite and some say if you pass it with the straw facing away it is a sign of disrespect and basically saying you don't like the person. Gotta love the subtelties. When you drink, you drink it all - no sipping allowed. The taste is extemely grassy and earthy, and even a little bitter and is compared a lot to strong green tea.

My personal opinion? Awesome drink, good energy boost, and a fun thing to do with friends. Reminds me of hookah in the sharing and passing and rituals. And I can't wait to buy my first mate at the market! Interesting last note: the traditional mate is made out of gourd, and all have to be cured before you can drink from them. With the gourd you have to actually scrape out the dried flesh but with all, you prepare yerba and let it set for 12 hours or more and throw it out. You only ever have to do this once. There are tons of different mate bases, from metal to wood to gourd to the more abstract. So far I've got my eye on the cow hoove mate ;)