{"id":15979,"date":"2025-11-17T14:39:21","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T13:39:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/endretango.com\/translation-to-english-mate-and-tango-an-argentinian-drink-at-the-milongas\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T14:53:58","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T13:53:58","slug":"mate-and-tango-argentinian-drink-milongas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/endretango.com\/en\/mate-and-tango-argentinian-drink-milongas\/","title":{"rendered":"Mate and tango \u2013 an Argentinian drink at the milongas"},"content":{"rendered":"
When I first drank mat\u00e9, it felt as if I wasn\u2019t just tasting a beverage, but being initiated into a secret South American ritual. I first drank it in Uruguay, where the yerba is ground more finely and the experience is even more intense. Usually the host drinks the first round (etiquette), but to tease me they handed me the first one \u2014 they didn\u2019t know I\u2019m a big tea lover, so the bitterness of that very first sip didn\u2019t bother me at all. Mat\u00e9 is not coffee, not tea \u2014 it is a ritual and a community<\/em>. For years I drank it almost day and night, then suddenly I stopped from one day to the next.<\/strong> Then came this summer in Buenos Aires. A month and a half in the birthplace of tango \u2014 the world championship, workshops, milongas \u2014 and mat\u00e9 is everywhere. I was offered some, I took a sip, and somehow I got hooked again. Why am I writing this article? Because I recommend mat\u00e9: it\u2019s very healthy, and I found a relatively cheap, good place to get it here at home. Although it\u2019s dirt cheap over there, it\u2019s often more expensive here \u2014 and this shop is a good alternative if you can\u2019t bring any back from Buenos Aires.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s begin \u2014 what exactly is mat\u00e9?<\/h2>\n

Mat\u00e9 is a South American drink made from the leaves of the yerba mate<\/em> plant (Ilex paraguariensis). It is mostly consumed in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay; drunk with hot water through a bombilla. It has\u00a0 mild stimulating effect, boosts concentration, and is often consumed as a communal ritual. \"\"<\/p>\n

How common is it?<\/h2>\n

In Buenos Aires, mat\u00e9 is present everywhere; in Uruguay, even more so. I\u2019ve seen people drinking mat\u00e9 while cycling: cup in one hand, thermos tucked under the arm \u2014 completely naturally. Or a couple walking hand in hand, each holding a mat\u00e9 in their free hand. There it\u2019s not a special program, not a festive ritual \u2014 it\u2019s simply part of the day, like a water bottle or a takeaway coffee is for us. \"\"<\/p>\n

Why is mat\u00e9 good?<\/h2>\n

Yerba mat\u00e9 contains caffeine<\/em>, theobromine<\/em>, and theophylline<\/em>. It doesn\u2019t shoot you up like a strong coffee: instead it gives a steady alertness<\/strong>. Thanks to its antioxidant content, many people mention anti-inflammatory and metabolism-supporting benefits too. My personal experience: it provides longer-lasting concentration and is gentler on my stomach than a second or third coffee during the day.<\/p>\n

How do you drink mat\u00e9 the right way?<\/h2>\n

Here\u2019s a short video guide that shows the preparation steps very well:<\/p>\n