Mate

Mate? No, it's actually pronounced mah-tey. It's basically tea, drunk throughout the day in vessels. We spent a lot of time with 2 Argentines who drank the stuff all day. They have bags to carry their thermos of hot water and their mate cups and straw.

It's an art pouring the grass into their vessel, shaking it to remove some of the dust, then slowly pour the water, stop, then pour more. In meetings they pass the mate cup around and everyone takes a sip. A very social activity.

Leandro let me try his mate and it's bitter, tastes a little like grass and similar to a very, very strong green tea.

It was 90 degrees outside and they still drink their mate throughout the day. In Uruguay it's common to see people drinking it while driving.

On the drive back to Buenos Aires we stopped at a gas station to take a bathroom break. Outside of the bathroom I saw this vending machine, which dispenses hot water for mate. Just insert your thermos, drop in your pesos, and the Argentine can continue to drink their mate.

I wonder if Mate Annonymous exists to help them kick their addiction?