- Joel Muñoz
- Apr 8
- 3 min read
Mate as the protagonist of the Spanish magazine Tapas
The Spanish magazine Tapas featured mate in one of its issues, highlighting its growing popularity in Europe and its value as a social and healthy drink. The article explores how mate, especially Taragüi yerba mate, is winning over chefs, influencers, and wellness enthusiasts across the continent.
In November 2018, the renowned Spanish magazine Tapas decided to grace its 75,000-copy circulation with a luxurious cover: Argentine rock icon Andrés Calamaro holding a mate, the legendary Argentine infusion that is among the 50 most delicious drinks in the world according to CNN Travel.
This internationally renowned Spanish publication, which has received the National Gastronomy Award, has decided to profile Andrés Calamaro, an Argentine rock icon, who is visiting Spain to present his latest album.
“What is it about mate that Andrés Calamaro loves so much?” is the title of the article in which the River Plate singer-songwriter reveals the mysteries of Argentina's quintessential cultural infusion.
“You have to bait with good yerba”
Calamaro shares some secrets of mate preparation and emphasizes the importance of the person preparing it: "The difference between a good mate (well-steeped) and an average mate is almost like the difference between good and bad. That's what happens with the quality of things. The ritual is the patience to prepare it and make it delicious."
“You have to prepare it little by little, soaking the bottom of the yerba with warm water so it goes a long way. Then, with the hot water, you can spit out the first mate (because it's acidic) and always start serving from the bombilla side, without wetting the whole yerba. The ideal mate is served with dry yerba on one side and foam where you drink it.” Regarding the right temperature, he comments that there are different theories. “I like it very hot, at 99°C,” he says. However, at Taragüi, we recommend a temperature between 70°C and 80°C.
The quality of the yerba is a decisive factor, and Andrés knows this: “You have to prime with good yerba because there's a difference with commercial yerba mate. I prime with Argentine yerba mate, although I really like Uruguayan mate.”
The benefits of drinking mate
“Mate wakes you up (…) and regulates your bowels quite a bit. It's an antioxidant, perhaps a diuretic. And more. It's a miraculous infusion. It has more virtues than we know. It also helps with balance. It includes iron, magnesium, vitamin B6, and caffeine. It's complete,” the musician assures.
“Bitter mate is the most widely used, but you can drink it with sugar, add mint, chamomile, fennel, etc., in tea bags like tea, or filtered like coffee,” in which case it's called mate cocido and can be served with milk.
Faithful companion of the artist
“I'm not sure where our passion for mate comes from,” he confesses in the interview. “Anyway, I didn't force mate on myself as an inclusive drink. I'm still improving and discovering alternative herbs. I started drinking it as an adult; as a child, I didn't find it appealing, and I didn't make any childish attempts to get used to it.”
The interviewer also mentions that it's common to see Calamaro with a mate in his hand and quotes a song from the author's new album: Early in the morning / bitter mate accompanies me... "I have a liter for breakfast, and I can continue fasting for several hours drinking more mate... a second liter!" Calamaro tells the magazine. "If I travel for more than a few days, I travel with the yerba mate, the thermos, and the mate."
Fortunately for him, it's now possible to find mate in many of the places he travels to thanks to the strong international trend. "There are communities that learned to drink mate and took the custom to other countries. It turns out that the best yerbas are exported... it's possible to find yerba mate almost anywhere."
International trend
It's not just Argentine celebrities who know and enjoy the benefits of yerba mate. Hillary Clinton, Madonna, Obama, and world-class soccer players like Antoine Griezmann maintain their energy and health with this legendary infusion. Furthermore, the spread of this custom has opened markets around the world, making it very easy to buy yerba mate no matter where you are.