History
Yerba mate originated in the region that now spans parts of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay (the Cono Sur).
Long before Europeans arrived, indigenous communities in this region, including the Guaraní people, used the leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis to prepare an infusion that energised them.
Yerba mate played a central role in their culture and daily life.
Mate was also used medicinally for conditions such as fatigue, headaches, and digestive problems.
16th - 19th century
Starting in the 16th century, Spanish Jesuits began systematically cultivating Ilex paraguariensis, primarily in the mission areas that are now the Misiones province in Argentina and parts of Paraguay. They improved the drying and production processes, making yerba mate an essential medium of exchange and trade.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the use of yerba mate spread further across South America, particularly to Argentina and Uruguay. Today, yerba mate is inextricably linked to the social and cultural identity of these countries, where it symbolises friendship, togetherness, and tradition.
Yerba knows no boundaries
What once began with the indigenous peoples of South America lives on today in unexpected corners of the world, such as Syria. Through 19th-century migration, Syrian families discovered yerba mate and brought the tradition back home. Today, Syria is one of the world’s largest consumers after South American countries. Yerba mate is drunk daily, often individually prepared.
A powerful example of how ritual connects people across continents, cultures, and generations. Since the 1980s, yerba mate has been gaining increasing attention worldwide.
Academic research now focuses on both its cultural significance and its health benefits.
