​The settlers of South America picked up the Mate drinking habit from the indigenous Indians who occupied the River Plate region. Since then it has developed into a habit that it enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. What’s unusual about Mate drinking is that people drink it all day long and getting it right is quite an evolved business. When drinking communally it also has a sophisticated etiquette. 

​Firstly there is the gourd in which the ground, powered Mate is put, not too much, not too little. The second ingredient is hot water (never boiling), which has to be gradually applied to get the consistency right, this is added as necessary but requires skill to ensure a smooth sip. To be asked to top up the communal Mate is an indication you have arrived as a Mate drinker. The liquid is then sucked up through a bomba, a straw with a filter at one end. 









As people drink Mate all day they carry a lot of kit around with them, the gourd, the bomba and the thermos for the hot water. The kit ranges from home made gourds and bamboo bombas, to elaborately decorated gourds and bombas made of solid silver. Special bags for carrying everything are also common but like the individuals pictured, most people carry everything in their arms. 













By the way, it tastes like strong Green Tea. 

Want to try it? You can buy all the kit and the Mate at the Algerian Coffee Store in Soho, London.