Not many drinks can offer the health benefits of tea, the strength of coffee, and the joy of chocolate like this super brew, yerba mate. Along with supposed benefits of supporting weight loss, concentration, and better digestion, drinking yerba mate continues to symbolize culture and tradition in South America.
Consumed mostly in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil — as well as in Syria and Lebanon — yerba mate (pronounced MAH-tay)is a hot, bitter, caffeinated tea made by steeping the dried leaves of the yerba mate plant. Containing roughly as much caffeine as coffee, about 80 milligrams per cup, mate has gained global popularity — much so that brands like Perrier, Red Bull, and PepsiCo have launched mate drinks.
But in the last couple of decades, mate started experiencing a boom outside of South America. Karla Johan, a mate sommelier (侍酒师) from Argentina, attributes this partly to football players from Argentina and Uruguay bringing the habit to Europe, where they moved to play for local teams. In fact, one might say that mate is the “beverage of champions”. When Argentina’s national football team travelled to Qatar in December 2022 to play and won the World Cup, they carried 240 kg of yerba mate with them.
Yerba mate, of course, eventually migrated over to the U. S. and in recent years has become a popular ingredient in everything from health elixirs (保健药) to energy drinks. Loose leaves can be purchased at most specialty grocery stores to make the drink at home. And if you want to get the full yerba mate experience, you can even order a cup for drinking mate and bombilla online, gather some friends, and enjoy the beauty of the South American ritual for yourself.
Global messaging platform WhatsApp recently introduced a mate emoji, which points to mate’s growing popularity as people aim for a healthier lifestyle. That’s because mate, said Johan, contains a higher level of antioxidants than green tea or red wine, and a powerful combination of vitamins from the clay soil where it grows. In Argentina, mate is common, a faithful companion for matters great and small. Yet, unlike coffee or tea, it is not consumed in cafes: It’s what you have at home and at work, in the park and on the train, during class or at the gym.
8. Which of the following is not the feature of yerba mate?
A.Its bitter flavor. | B.Its long history. |
C.Its ingredient of caffeine. | D.Its function of losing weight. |
9. What makes yerba mate globally popular?
A.Its unique coffee taste. |
B.Its health benefits. |
C.The support of famous football players. |
D.The launch of mate drinks by famous brands. |
10. Which is the following is NOT true about yerba mate according to paragraph 4?
A.It can be easily accessible. | B.It can cure some diseases. |
C.It can be made into energy drinks. | D.It can be purchased online. |
11. Why do people show preference for yerba mate according to paragraph 5?
A.Because it is a faithful companion. |
B.Because it can be enjoyed everywhere. |
C.Because it contains some beneficial elements. |
D.Because it is better than green tea and red wine. |