Secondary Research
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Undated antique photo of Uruguayan people drinking mate
Interview with my mother (*****personal conversation, January 31, 2015)
I spoke to my mom about the tradition of drinking mate. She shared with me that she saw her family, including her parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, drink mate from when she was a little girl. She told me that no matter where you go in Uruguay, you will see people drinking mate, regardless of the time of day or the season. She said that it was very typical to have a Uruguayan fried dough, called “tortas fritas” with the mate as a type of afternoon snack. She remembers making these with her mom in the kitchen. Her mom would socialize with the neighbours by sharing mate with them in front of her house. She also remembers that she and her girlfriends would stroll around the neighbourhood while drinking mate.
She told me that drinking mate is shared across genders and social class. She said women and men drink mate and that in downtown Montevideo (the capital of Uruguay), you will see men in suits drinking mate as they walk to work. She said that older children sometimes drink mate, however, they usually sweeten it with sugar, as the taste of mate can be bitter, especially to people drinking it for the first time. Women tend to drink “sweet” mate and men tend to drink “bitter” mate.
She told me that drinking mate in Uruguay is seen as a very social tradition. Neighbours will often sit outside on the sidewalk, pulling up lawn chairs together, so they can chat and share some mate. She said that the host usually provides the mate gourd and straw and the hot water. The guests pass around the mate gourd, taking turns and sharing the same straw.
She shared with me that when she first immigrated to Canada, drinking mate was one of the traditions she missed the most. Both because of the tea itself, but also because of the social interaction it represented, which she missed out on by being in a new country. She missed having people who spoke her language, and who understood her culture. Back in the 1970’s when my mom first immigrated to Canada, it was very difficult to find mate leaves in stores. Today, there are many stores that carry mate leaves and supplies, as the drink has gained popularity in North America.
Uruguayans drinking mate as they socialize. Uruguay's national soccer team drinking mate. The Pope drinking mate.
“Enchantment of the World: Uruguay” by Marion Morrison
According to Morrison (1992), Uruguay has an “unusual tradition” of drinking yerba mate. The leaves used to make yerba mate come from a tree related to the holly. The leaves are first dried and then finely powdered. Morrison states that yerba mate originated from native Indians who believed that the tea leaves had magical or religious properties. When the Spaniards arrived in Uruguay, they took up drinking of this tea. Drinking mate is a “widespread custom” in Uruguay and you can see people sipping mate at all times of the day. It is very common to see people drinking mate as they walk down the streets. This source further validated much of what my mom had shared with me, and also added some new information about the historical beginnings of the mate tradition.
Interview with my mother (*****personal conversation, January 31, 2015)
I spoke to my mom about the tradition of drinking mate. She shared with me that she saw her family, including her parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, drink mate from when she was a little girl. She told me that no matter where you go in Uruguay, you will see people drinking mate, regardless of the time of day or the season. She said that it was very typical to have a Uruguayan fried dough, called “tortas fritas” with the mate as a type of afternoon snack. She remembers making these with her mom in the kitchen. Her mom would socialize with the neighbours by sharing mate with them in front of her house. She also remembers that she and her girlfriends would stroll around the neighbourhood while drinking mate.
She told me that drinking mate is shared across genders and social class. She said women and men drink mate and that in downtown Montevideo (the capital of Uruguay), you will see men in suits drinking mate as they walk to work. She said that older children sometimes drink mate, however, they usually sweeten it with sugar, as the taste of mate can be bitter, especially to people drinking it for the first time. Women tend to drink “sweet” mate and men tend to drink “bitter” mate.
She told me that drinking mate in Uruguay is seen as a very social tradition. Neighbours will often sit outside on the sidewalk, pulling up lawn chairs together, so they can chat and share some mate. She said that the host usually provides the mate gourd and straw and the hot water. The guests pass around the mate gourd, taking turns and sharing the same straw.
She shared with me that when she first immigrated to Canada, drinking mate was one of the traditions she missed the most. Both because of the tea itself, but also because of the social interaction it represented, which she missed out on by being in a new country. She missed having people who spoke her language, and who understood her culture. Back in the 1970’s when my mom first immigrated to Canada, it was very difficult to find mate leaves in stores. Today, there are many stores that carry mate leaves and supplies, as the drink has gained popularity in North America.
Uruguayans drinking mate as they socialize. Uruguay's national soccer team drinking mate. The Pope drinking mate.
“Enchantment of the World: Uruguay” by Marion Morrison
According to Morrison (1992), Uruguay has an “unusual tradition” of drinking yerba mate. The leaves used to make yerba mate come from a tree related to the holly. The leaves are first dried and then finely powdered. Morrison states that yerba mate originated from native Indians who believed that the tea leaves had magical or religious properties. When the Spaniards arrived in Uruguay, they took up drinking of this tea. Drinking mate is a “widespread custom” in Uruguay and you can see people sipping mate at all times of the day. It is very common to see people drinking mate as they walk down the streets. This source further validated much of what my mom had shared with me, and also added some new information about the historical beginnings of the mate tradition.
A variety of mate gourds and straws for A variety of mate tea for sale on a store shelf. Dry mate leaves.
sale at an outdoor Uruguayan market.
"Mate: Uruguay's National Drink" by Renzo Costa
When describing mate, this source states, "one of its main, distinctive characteristics is that it can be part of a social ritual. People share the cup (which is called mate itself) and pass it around while telling stories, watching a football (soccer) match, or just getting through a working day. Mate is a sign of respect and friendship. If you receive an invitation to drink mate, it means that the person respects you." This quote explains the social importance of drinking mate to Uruguayan people.
sale at an outdoor Uruguayan market.
"Mate: Uruguay's National Drink" by Renzo Costa
When describing mate, this source states, "one of its main, distinctive characteristics is that it can be part of a social ritual. People share the cup (which is called mate itself) and pass it around while telling stories, watching a football (soccer) match, or just getting through a working day. Mate is a sign of respect and friendship. If you receive an invitation to drink mate, it means that the person respects you." This quote explains the social importance of drinking mate to Uruguayan people.
People walking and socializing while drinking mate in Uruguay. Uruguay's president, Jose Mujica,
drinking mate.
drinking mate.
YouTube - "Yerba Mate Uruguay National Drink"
The following video helped solidify what I was learning through my research. It talks about the prevalence and importance of drinking mate to Uruguayans. It also explains how to prepare mate, and the importance of sharing the same gourd and straw among friends. Additionally, it shows images of Uruguayans drinking mate all over the city.
The following video helped solidify what I was learning through my research. It talks about the prevalence and importance of drinking mate to Uruguayans. It also explains how to prepare mate, and the importance of sharing the same gourd and straw among friends. Additionally, it shows images of Uruguayans drinking mate all over the city.
"Mate-Sharing is a Tradition" by Mary-Fleur Tordjmann
According to this source, Mate’s origin dates back to the Guaranis, an indigenous people who lived in Uruguay. The mate drink was once called “Ca’a”, meaning plant in Guarani language. It was used during mystical rituals or as a welcome drink. The Guaranis also used to take mate for its energizing properties. The legend says that, one day, an old nomad man was too weak to keep following his tribe. One night, a stranger visited and asked for food and shelter which the old man generously gave away. “Surprised by such hospitality, the visitor, who actually was Tupa, the Guaranis’ supreme god, offered them a plant he created to make a special kind of tea, so that they will never be thirsty again and always remain healthy. He also told them to share the beverage with the others from the tribe. Since then, mate has been synonymous with health, endurance and sharing.”
When Spaniards settled in Uruguay in the 1500's, they started to drink mate after becoming aware of its health-promoting properties. Today, mate is the national Uruguayan drink and the Uruguayan people are the major consumers of mate per capita in the world. They drink it at all times of the day or the night and each time is a special moment of sharing and friendship. Drinking mate is viewed as a social ceremony with specific rules to follow. In Uruguay, mate has to be shared, and the drinkers sit down in a circle and pass the mate gourd around so that everyone can drink some.
Wikipedia - Yerba Mate
According to Wikipedia, mate is drank in: "Argentina, Bolivia, Southern and Cener-Western Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Southern Chile."
Wikipedia - Coat of Arms of Uruguay
According to Wikipedia, Uruguay's coat of armour "consists of an oval, which is divided into four equal sections and crowned by a rising golden sun, the “Sun of May”, symbolizing the rising of the Uruguayan nation. The oval is surrounded by a laurel branch on the left and an olive one on the right, representing honor and peace, joined at the bottom by a blue ribbon" This image looks a lot like the design on my mate straw.
According to Wikipedia, Uruguay's coat of armour "consists of an oval, which is divided into four equal sections and crowned by a rising golden sun, the “Sun of May”, symbolizing the rising of the Uruguayan nation. The oval is surrounded by a laurel branch on the left and an olive one on the right, representing honor and peace, joined at the bottom by a blue ribbon" This image looks a lot like the design on my mate straw.