Yerba mate, from Paraguay to Syria(globalvoices.org)
globalvoices.org
Yerba mate, from Paraguay to Syria
https://globalvoices.org/2024/05/20/yerba-mate-south-americas-indigenous-tea-from-paraguay-to-syria/
83 comments
Parts of southern and central-western Brazil also drink Tereré ("Tererê") with fruit juice, most tipically lemonade, so I'd guess there may be some other places here and there in South America where that's also regionally true
In those same regions a sort of sweetened hot mate drink is typically made for children. Do you have that in Paraguay? It's called "Mate-doce", and I'm pretty sure it's not related to what you described as "cocido", which I've never heard of and sounds like it prepares the leaves in a different way
Does anyone have a 'recipe' for this cocido? I'm curious to check it out
In those same regions a sort of sweetened hot mate drink is typically made for children. Do you have that in Paraguay? It's called "Mate-doce", and I'm pretty sure it's not related to what you described as "cocido", which I've never heard of and sounds like it prepares the leaves in a different way
Does anyone have a 'recipe' for this cocido? I'm curious to check it out
> In those same regions a sort of sweetened hot mate drink is typically made for children. Do you have that in Paraguay? It's called "Mate-doce", and I'm pretty sure it's not related to what you described as "cocido", which I've never heard of
We also have "mate dulce" but it's mate usually only in name. It's made with coconut and other stuff, but drank in a mate gourd. As far as I can tell (I'm no expert, never made or drank the stuff) it does not carry yerba mate at all.
We also have "mate dulce" but it's mate usually only in name. It's made with coconut and other stuff, but drank in a mate gourd. As far as I can tell (I'm no expert, never made or drank the stuff) it does not carry yerba mate at all.
Mate cocido is just mate in tea bags, rather than the traditional preparation method. Sugar is prevalent but strictly speaking, optional (nobody is going to say it's not mate cocido if you don't take sweetener in yours).
I know a few retired Argentine Navy guys who make their mate cocido in a coffee percolator. The horrors of war change a man in ways difficult for us civilians to understand.
I know a few retired Argentine Navy guys who make their mate cocido in a coffee percolator. The horrors of war change a man in ways difficult for us civilians to understand.
Mate cocido is indeed a known concept, at least in southern Patagonia. It's a Mate infusion that is generally sweetened... I still do drink Mate Cocido every now and again...
The way you describe it is similar to what I know of 'Mate-doce. From the parent post I got the impression it was something different in its preparation and I was curious to understand exactly if/how it differs
Agree, sounds exactly the same... Also forgot to mention that you can indeed find Mate Cocido in individual bags: https://es.pampadirect.com/rosamonte-mate-cocido-yerba-mate-...
> You drink your yerba mate, whether hot or cold, unsweetened
What about adding additional herbs (yuyos) for flavoring? Not fully sure, but I have the impression that it is mostly a Paraguayan thing.
What about adding additional herbs (yuyos) for flavoring? Not fully sure, but I have the impression that it is mostly a Paraguayan thing.
It’s interesting to see the love for yerba mate here! Fun fact: until the 1800s, yaupon holly was the go-to caffeinated beverage in the USA. Native Americans and early settlers drank it regularly, much like how yerba mate is enjoyed in South America. It was called “black drink” and was prized for its stimulating effects and health benefits. However, coffee’s rise in popularity pushed yaupon holly out of the spotlight. It’s now making a comeback as people rediscover its unique flavor and benefits. If you’re curious, check out some of the stories about yaupon holly’s history and resurgence!
Mate softdrinks are what fuels the German IT industry, with Club Mate being the most popular example.
This is surprising the article does not mention Germany (maybe it is too rich). There is a huge mate soft drink culture in Germany with lots of different brands. Club Mate is 100 years old soft drink so call it a traditional German drink.
…and also one of the ingredients for the hacker-approved Tschunk! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club-Mate#Tschunk
> yaupon holly
Its Latin name is unfortunate, though.
Its Latin name is unfortunate, though.
According to Wikipedia the Latin name was given for a reason.
* Historically the ceremonial consumption often included vomiting, and Europeans deduced that yaupon caused it (hence the Latin name - Ilex vomitoria).[11] The active ingredients, like those of the related yerba mate and guayusa plants, are caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline;[12][13] the vomiting may have resulted from the great quantities in which they drank the beverage, coupled with fasting.[6][14]*
* Historically the ceremonial consumption often included vomiting, and Europeans deduced that yaupon caused it (hence the Latin name - Ilex vomitoria).[11] The active ingredients, like those of the related yerba mate and guayusa plants, are caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline;[12][13] the vomiting may have resulted from the great quantities in which they drank the beverage, coupled with fasting.[6][14]*
I've visited Syria back in the days and I was shocked how popular Yerba Mate is there, I tried it with the locals and I love it since then, it is amusing to consume slowly with a hint of sugar while chatting with neighbor and friends or simply while thinking and contemplating, I also think the caffeine makes it a little addictive.
Anecdotal, but I've had multiple Physicians (Urologists, specifically) recommend Mate as an alternative to Coffee and Tea. Particularly for people who find that Coffee or Tea causes them excessive urination and/or poor sleep quality; or who want to reduce the amount of acid in their diet. Though, as a reminder, Mate does also have caffiene, which can cause excessive urination and/sleep problems all by itself, even in pure (i.e., pill) form...
FWIW, as a long-time resident in the north-east USA, I've seen mate increasingly available in large grocery stores (super markets); though not consistently. And often it's the pre-mixed 'canned mate' form -- whatever that stuff is; I've never tried it. But Mate is typically also available in ground leaf/powder form, in tea bags. And sometimes in bulk form. That's what I purchase.
Sadly, I've rarely encountered Mate in restaurants in the USA, even in ones which advertise a selection of high-quality teas. At best, I've seen it in independent tea rooms and coffee bars. No, NOT in StarPhucks--yucks: coffee so bitter--at least not any of the ones near me.
After trying several of the brands of Mate that my local grocery store carried, I (happily) settled on the products from the Mate Factor company, from Asheville, NC. (I have no connection with them, other than as a very satisfied customer.) I particularly like their 'Mocha Mint' flavor, hot, either by itself, or slighly sweetened. (Though I can taste the mint note, most definitely; the mocha part is: ehh?) I think the Chai flavor is also good, but may be more of an acquired taste. The Hibiscus Lime is also yummy (IMO); but may not be a good choice for those who gave up coffee or tea for mate on acidity grounds (that's not medical advice, and I'm not your doctor).
https://matefactor.com/collections/yerba-mate
EDIT: typo fixes
FWIW, as a long-time resident in the north-east USA, I've seen mate increasingly available in large grocery stores (super markets); though not consistently. And often it's the pre-mixed 'canned mate' form -- whatever that stuff is; I've never tried it. But Mate is typically also available in ground leaf/powder form, in tea bags. And sometimes in bulk form. That's what I purchase.
Sadly, I've rarely encountered Mate in restaurants in the USA, even in ones which advertise a selection of high-quality teas. At best, I've seen it in independent tea rooms and coffee bars. No, NOT in StarPhucks--yucks: coffee so bitter--at least not any of the ones near me.
After trying several of the brands of Mate that my local grocery store carried, I (happily) settled on the products from the Mate Factor company, from Asheville, NC. (I have no connection with them, other than as a very satisfied customer.) I particularly like their 'Mocha Mint' flavor, hot, either by itself, or slighly sweetened. (Though I can taste the mint note, most definitely; the mocha part is: ehh?) I think the Chai flavor is also good, but may be more of an acquired taste. The Hibiscus Lime is also yummy (IMO); but may not be a good choice for those who gave up coffee or tea for mate on acidity grounds (that's not medical advice, and I'm not your doctor).
https://matefactor.com/collections/yerba-mate
EDIT: typo fixes
Interesting that its basically caffeine - but the culture of drinking mate is more similar to "smoking a cigar" ie slow time for deep thinking.
(I know that is supposed to hit slowly due to whatever other compounds, but its not my experience)
(I know that is supposed to hit slowly due to whatever other compounds, but its not my experience)
Also, it differs from coffee in that it contains many mineral salts that avoid the process of dehydration caused by coffee, which just makes you pee a lot and doesn't have these beneficial mineral salts.
Kinda seems like two myths here.
1. Coffee doesn't have a net negative hydration effect.
2. Both coffee and yerba mate appear to contain "mineral salts". And you certainly piss drinking the latter just like you do drinking any liquid.
1. Coffee doesn't have a net negative hydration effect.
2. Both coffee and yerba mate appear to contain "mineral salts". And you certainly piss drinking the latter just like you do drinking any liquid.
Gaúcho (Brazilian from Rio Grande do Sul) here. I drink mate (chimarrão) daily. I certainly piss a lot during the first hours.
Maybe. I just listened to Andrew Huberman talking about this and I assumed was true.
I would take what he says with a pinch of salt, as with all things.
A pinch of "mineral salts", if you will.
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I've tried all the popular yerba mate brands, smoked, flavored, Uruguayan, Argentinian, but I still prefer organic unsmoked Yerba Mate with stems. I brew 1/2 cup of mate with 2 cups of 150F water and a splash of lemon juice for 30 minutes, then pour the whole thing through a chemex coffee filter. It takes a few minutes to filter, but the result is a delicious, very caffinated, slightly lemony tea.
Had an ex who did Peace Corp in Paraguay and first introduced me to it. Hated it: bitter, astringent; didn't really care for the green version. Later in life came across mate again from Argentine culture and fell hard. While I liked sharing, I did enjoy drinking solo more. It really made me super productive at work during problem solving and was an all-day drink unlike tea or coffee.
Moderation is key: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es303494s I had to attenuate my drinking after 3 yrs of my favorite brand, Rosamonte Seleccion Especial. I've since moved more to coffee but there is still a lingering tender spot for my beloved mate.
This part is rather easily explained, I think:
"how did it captivate so many millions of daily drinkers around the world?"
Unlike coffee beans it's trivial to produce, you basically just chop leaves and dry them, possibly with smoke.
Unlike coffee there are no adrenergic heebie-jeebies, only a rather strong and 'pure' caffeine high. Supposedly there's a mineral content that'll be nice to the nervous system too.
There are rumours about it causing stomach and mouth cancer, with some studies seemingly supporting this and some countering that it might just be the practice of drinking a very hot infusion. Making a cold infusion works fine, at least with regards to the drug effects.
I'm not too worried about the cancer stuff and usually keep a kilogram or so in the cupboard in case I run out of more expensive caffeine sources.
"how did it captivate so many millions of daily drinkers around the world?"
Unlike coffee beans it's trivial to produce, you basically just chop leaves and dry them, possibly with smoke.
Unlike coffee there are no adrenergic heebie-jeebies, only a rather strong and 'pure' caffeine high. Supposedly there's a mineral content that'll be nice to the nervous system too.
There are rumours about it causing stomach and mouth cancer, with some studies seemingly supporting this and some countering that it might just be the practice of drinking a very hot infusion. Making a cold infusion works fine, at least with regards to the drug effects.
I'm not too worried about the cancer stuff and usually keep a kilogram or so in the cupboard in case I run out of more expensive caffeine sources.
There is some evidence of prolonged use and cancer:
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs...
This study, https://sci-hub.wf/10.1007/s10552-012-9968-z ?
If so they just decided that alcohol and tobacco don't have any effect on prostate cancer prevalence and then went on and crunched some numbers on threehundred or so cases, out of which a third said they'd been smokers for more than fifty years.
I think it's very hard to generalise from that study alone.
If so they just decided that alcohol and tobacco don't have any effect on prostate cancer prevalence and then went on and crunched some numbers on threehundred or so cases, out of which a third said they'd been smokers for more than fifty years.
I think it's very hard to generalise from that study alone.
> some countering that it might just be the practice of drinking a very hot infusion
Yeah and from what I remember, frequently cited studies were looking at the combination of maté with tobacco and alcohol, others didn't control for the delivery style. Maté, especially when consumed in a tiny gourd that's constantly refreshed with boiling water, can make the tissues in your mouth and neck more vulnerable to subsequent cigarettes.
On top of that, maté leaves are often smoke dried, which carries some self-evident risks. My conclusion was to get air dried leaves and be mindful of how hot the water is.
Yeah and from what I remember, frequently cited studies were looking at the combination of maté with tobacco and alcohol, others didn't control for the delivery style. Maté, especially when consumed in a tiny gourd that's constantly refreshed with boiling water, can make the tissues in your mouth and neck more vulnerable to subsequent cigarettes.
On top of that, maté leaves are often smoke dried, which carries some self-evident risks. My conclusion was to get air dried leaves and be mindful of how hot the water is.
I've read the stems have something bad in them. Higher end mate has less stems included.
My understanding is the cancer risk is from smoked Yerba mate only.
That or having the water at extremely high temperatures is my understanding too.
I love mate. It has probably saved my life as a software developer, not tolerating the strong effect of coffee on my sleep, but yerba mate, and especially freshly stored in vacuum bags, slightly dried but not smoked is my favorite.
Meta Mate (https://metamate.cc/) makes a total bomb of a mate product, can highly recommend if you are in Europe and want to try out their refreshing Meta Mate 23.
Have to order another batch from them now, I've tested many mates but theirs just tastes and works the best for me.
Was introduced to mate by a fellow software developer back in the day, happy that he did, would not have figure out it otherwise.
Meta Mate (https://metamate.cc/) makes a total bomb of a mate product, can highly recommend if you are in Europe and want to try out their refreshing Meta Mate 23.
Have to order another batch from them now, I've tested many mates but theirs just tastes and works the best for me.
Was introduced to mate by a fellow software developer back in the day, happy that he did, would not have figure out it otherwise.
Wow thanks for the recommendation. We are currently out of stock of Meta Mate 23 and this season is going to be hard due to the weather conditions in south Brasil but hopefully we will be restocked in a couple of months with 23 and Raw Mate as these were harvested, dried and packed before the rains started.
Moonshine Mate fans might have to continue enjoying last year's harvest....
I'm a daily mate drinker (from Argentina). It's like a milder coffee. Great beverage, I recommend it.
It’s not mild, you just developed tolerance.
Source: an Argentinian who drinks more coffee than mate
Source: an Argentinian who drinks more coffee than mate
It's milder in the sense it has less caffeine than coffee and is also more approachable to tea drinkers because it doesn't have as strong of a darker roasted taste.
Not sure if the other xanthines make up for that.
Not sure if the other xanthines make up for that.
Mate has about the same amount of caffeine as coffee. More even because of how it's consumed. You refill the hot water repeatedly, each infusion drawing more caffeine from the herb.
True but also if I weren’t drinking mate I would probably drink at least 2 more cups of coffee a day, so all in all I think it comes out as less daily caffeine consumption.
It definitely makes me less jittery than coffee. I stopped drinking coffee, except for a cup in the morning and I have mate the rest of the day.
It’s still a stimulant but in a more relaxing way
It’s still a stimulant but in a more relaxing way
I visited Uruguay a couple years ago and got into drinking mate. Even brought a colorful cup and bombilla [metal drinking straw] back home with me as souvenirs.
This was during the tail end of covid restrictions, so yeah I don't think there was as much sharing as there normally is.
Yerba mate is good, but even if you're not into it, consider getting a bombilla (that filtering metal straw). They are exceptionally convenient for drinking all kinds of herb-based beverage: tea, roiboos, whatever.
Wow, I was introduced to Yerba Mate by a Syrian guy. So this is why.
> ”sipping a hot, slightly bitter infusion of caffeinated leaves from a dried gourd through a filtered metal straw, before passing the gourd to their friends to share”
Someone might correct me, but I believe it is only in Brazil south that “chimarrão” (how they call this drink) is drank like this, hot and shared.
In Argentina and Uruguay you drink it individually. You can share the recipient with the mate in it, but once you added a refill of hot water and took the first sip, you have to drink it until the end before returning.
And in Paraguay they drink the “tereré” with cold water.
Someone might correct me, but I believe it is only in Brazil south that “chimarrão” (how they call this drink) is drank like this, hot and shared.
In Argentina and Uruguay you drink it individually. You can share the recipient with the mate in it, but once you added a refill of hot water and took the first sip, you have to drink it until the end before returning.
And in Paraguay they drink the “tereré” with cold water.
It really depends, if you are with people for sure, but I see Ubers and concierge drinking it solo all the time.
Plus there is always San Pedro’s or San Jaun’s cup. I forget the guys name it’s the guy who saved the Indios, when you first make terere you leave it sit and this is for that guy and also to let the horrible first taste soak into the first sip.
Also as I found out it’s really bad manners to stir the spoon / straw thing.
Plus there is always San Pedro’s or San Jaun’s cup. I forget the guys name it’s the guy who saved the Indios, when you first make terere you leave it sit and this is for that guy and also to let the horrible first taste soak into the first sip.
Also as I found out it’s really bad manners to stir the spoon / straw thing.
> Also as I found out it’s really bad manners to stir the spoon / straw thing.
It is as it ruins the experience. The "bomba" (Portuguese), or "bombilla" (Spanish) (the straw) is generally placed in a way that tries to ensure a smooth flow. Moving it means the leaves near the bottom of the "cuia" (Portuguese), or "mate" (Spanish) (the gourd, or cup), potentially blocking the flow of water. That ruins the experience for everybody in the circle.
It is as it ruins the experience. The "bomba" (Portuguese), or "bombilla" (Spanish) (the straw) is generally placed in a way that tries to ensure a smooth flow. Moving it means the leaves near the bottom of the "cuia" (Portuguese), or "mate" (Spanish) (the gourd, or cup), potentially blocking the flow of water. That ruins the experience for everybody in the circle.
No, that’s not correct at all.
In meetings, you share the mate across, I’ve only seen 1:1 people:mate relations in American shows (grace and Frankie for example) and we consider that very weird.
The social point of mate is to meet and chat with other people, and spend some time together, sharing mate and food
In meetings, you share the mate across, I’ve only seen 1:1 people:mate relations in American shows (grace and Frankie for example) and we consider that very weird.
The social point of mate is to meet and chat with other people, and spend some time together, sharing mate and food
Argentinian here. Yes, you drink all the mate (preferably in three sips) before returning it to the "cebador" (the one who is in charge of refilling it).
In Argentina the mate (the gourd) was usually shared (when I was there a decade ago). In Uruguay usually only the thermo was passed around.
The Brazilian tradition is to drink the whole mate before passing to your friend. They will then refill it with hot water and so on.
In Paraguay it is indeed cold terere but it is absolutely shared, rarely drank solo
in the middle east it is generally not shared, everyone has their own and the host will refill your gourd with water.
In Brazil, each person drinks a whole cup before returning it to the cevador (the owner of the circle, normally the person who made the drink and holds the thermos). It's bad form to send it back partially drank.
Paraguayan here.
With hot water = mate.
Brewed as tea or coffee and drank with a teacup = cocido.
With ice-cold water = tereré.
Both mate and tereré are shared if appropriate, but after COVID this is seriously restricted.
People who drink their mate only to themselves are usually the Uruguayans.
With hot water = mate.
Brewed as tea or coffee and drank with a teacup = cocido.
With ice-cold water = tereré.
Both mate and tereré are shared if appropriate, but after COVID this is seriously restricted.
People who drink their mate only to themselves are usually the Uruguayans.
Does it contain antibacterials?
Seems like an easy vector to spread sickness or disease. Or am I misunderstanding things? Is it like bums sharing a nighttrain [though alcohol helps here] or is there some hygiene involved?
Seems like an easy vector to spread sickness or disease. Or am I misunderstanding things? Is it like bums sharing a nighttrain [though alcohol helps here] or is there some hygiene involved?
The pipe used to drink it is made of silver and the thing is really hot. Drinkers believe it sterilizes the liquid, unfortunately, the Hep-B virus is tolerant to both. Brazil's Minister of Health records frequent outbreaks of the disease in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, where this habit is more common.
Do you mean hep a?
As a kid I tried hanging with adults doing this.
That social circle was fun. I do miss it.
The idea of sitting in a circle today for four hours between meals seems unattainable today.
That social circle was fun. I do miss it.
The idea of sitting in a circle today for four hours between meals seems unattainable today.
Correct, that’s a thing only in Rio Grande do Sul.
Source: born and raised there :)
Source: born and raised there :)
Incorrect. Gaúcho here, born and raised - but with many many friends and relatives in the other mate-drinking countries and across our (unfortunately currently under a lot of distress) state.
Everywhere in the Pampas region - Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina and Rio Grande do Sul -, the "roda de chimarrão" is pretty much the same. (Apparently in some part of Uruguay it's a bit less shared, more personal).
One person holds the thermos and generally owns the mate. They usually have the first drink as both a way of validating the drink and as a niceness to the rest of the group, since it's the coldest. Gourd is refilled and passed on to the next person, who drinks all of it and passes it back to the "cevador", who again refills it and passes on to the next person. So on and so forth.
Everywhere in the Pampas region - Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina and Rio Grande do Sul -, the "roda de chimarrão" is pretty much the same. (Apparently in some part of Uruguay it's a bit less shared, more personal).
One person holds the thermos and generally owns the mate. They usually have the first drink as both a way of validating the drink and as a niceness to the rest of the group, since it's the coldest. Gourd is refilled and passed on to the next person, who drinks all of it and passes it back to the "cevador", who again refills it and passes on to the next person. So on and so forth.
I see, I didn’t know about Argentina.
I grew up in a border town bordering Uruguay and over there I’d definitely see folks carrying their personal thermos and cuia. But I would see groups on the Brazilian side of the border.
I grew up in a border town bordering Uruguay and over there I’d definitely see folks carrying their personal thermos and cuia. But I would see groups on the Brazilian side of the border.
Yeah, this is how I have drank mate my entire life and everyone I know (apart from my wife and her Uruguayan family) drinks mate in this way. I'm originally from Bs As, but I've confirmed this with folks from Salta (NW), Santa Cruz (S), Corrientes (NE, althought not as much as Formosa!) and the odd Cordobes and Mendocino as well.
Uruguayans tend to be more likely to have one thermo and mate per person, similar to the tradition in Corrientes (which makes sense if you look at who their immediate neighbors on their western border are).
Uruguayans tend to be more likely to have one thermo and mate per person, similar to the tradition in Corrientes (which makes sense if you look at who their immediate neighbors on their western border are).
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Argentinian here, if you are alone, you drink alone, if you are with other people, you share. Sometimes there are more than one mate in the round.
People from the north of Argentina also drink tereré, with cold water or juice.
What's different from Brasil is the yerba they use, here is dried, there is not.
People from the north of Argentina also drink tereré, with cold water or juice.
What's different from Brasil is the yerba they use, here is dried, there is not.
Until a while ago, I didn't realize that the Linux Mint Mate desktop was named after the tea, not as in "hello mate".
I drink it a lot, about twice per day with my wife. It’s a nice moment to share with friends and family. Less jittery than coffee.
It's American too. Native Americans drank a Yaupon holly drink, as did Mormons (hence "Mormon tea"). It's not really prevalent here but you can raise your own native plant here in the USA if you want to and make your own tea.
I've always heard ephedra called Mormon tea.
Me too. I'm pretty sure Yaupon didn't grow in any of the Mormon areas (New York, Ohio/Missouri/Illinois, or Utah)
You are both correct.
Tisane.
I'm from Argentina, it's normal to do both, its a very social drink with friends. Not too higienical
I tried it, it's quite bitter and grassy. Not sure if it was the brand or how I made it, or if that's how it's supposed to be.
Straight mate is bitter. My wife and some people I've shared it with have said the same about it being grassy, I don't taste that myself though. You can also get it with mint or orange or other things if you don't want straight mate (I have these and plain mate so I can pick what I want each day). Some people add sugar or honey to it as well.
EDIT: Also, the first steeping and drink is the most bitter. After that it's much, much less bitter. Comparable to other teas and black coffee.
EDIT: Also, the first steeping and drink is the most bitter. After that it's much, much less bitter. Comparable to other teas and black coffee.
Ah that is why it is rebrewed. I do a mixed brew in a pair of quart jars. I fill about 2/3 w mate and water. Then I brew oolong tea and mix that strained tea w the mate that still has the mate leaves in it. I drink it w sugar. It's popular for the health and mood benefits it isn't consumed for flavor.
I've been drinking mate since before I could walk and I would disagree. It's an acquired taste but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's 'not consumed for flavor'.
I do something similar to what you do with mint tea instead of oolong for the summertime. A kind of terere cocido I guess lol.
I do something similar to what you do with mint tea instead of oolong for the summertime. A kind of terere cocido I guess lol.
A nitpick on Tereré. Tereré is usually the ice-cold version of mate. You drink mate with hot water, tereré with ice-cold water as a refreshment.
The practice of drinking it with fruit juice or some sweet beverage is mostly prevalent on northern Argentina. Here it is mostly viewed as a sacrilege. You drink your yerba mate, whether hot or cold, unsweetened (unless brewed as in cocido; in that case, sweetening it is accepted).
Tereré is something almost essential here in our scorching hot days. What a blessing!
In case you wonder, if you want to get an idea of yerba mate's taste, think green tea. They're not equal, of course, but there's some similarity.