If you looked into yerba mate just a little bit, you’ll quickly learn it’s common to drink it practically all day, every day in South America.

After all, it is just tea.

You can drink it as often as you drink coffee, black tea, or green tea.

However, with yerba mate, there’s a sacred tradition and communion built behind it.

It’s more of a social activity than it is a drink. So much so that there are even unspoken ‘rules’ and practices people abide by. With that said, it’s only natural for there to be a common time and place to drink it.

When’s that?

When Is It Common To Drink Mate?

In countries in South America like Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil, it’s common to drink mate with friends and family. Whether at home, on the street, or at the park, you can always find groups of people sitting down sharing and passing a gourd around, forming what is known as a mate circle.

One person – the cebador – prepares and serves the mate, while the others drink and enjoy one gourd at a time over good conversation, and sometimes food.

Similar to coffee and tea in America, yerba mate is also commonly consumed as a morning pick-me-up. However, for most South Americans, they can drink yerba mate all day long. Liter after liter, gourd after gourd, from the morning to the evening, and sometimes even before bed (not recommended).

Yerba mate is so deeply ingrained in their culture that when someone offers you a mate and you refuse, you’re seen as rude.

You see, to us, it may just be another novel tea for waking us up. But to them, it’s habit and apart of everyday life.

Though, this doesn’t mean we have to drink it as often or in the way that they do…

Drinking Yerba Mate Alone

Despite yerba mate being touted as a social drink, it’s just as common to drink it alone in the morning as you would with coffee. In fact, this is the more common way to drink it in the United States as we don’t share the same love for mate as South Americans do.

Unless you’re from there, yerba mate will likely be a tea unique to you alone.

As much as you might want to share it with loved ones, chances are, you won’t get the result you’re looking for. Its acquired taste is usually offputting to newcomers. At best, you’ll just leave everyone with a bad taste in their mouth.

But that’s OK.

Because drinking yerba mate alone is a special experience. And personally, I prefer it this way.

There’s nothing like waking up in the morning, heating some water, preparing your gourd, and taking your first sip of mate for the day. Aside from the euphoric and stimulating effects it gives you, the ritual and routine are what really make it unique.

It requires your attention and care to prepare it traditionally, forcing you to be present and to focus on what’s in front of you. It’s in these moments where order is created out of chaos. And this helps set the tone for the rest of the day.

It’s meditation in motion.

And once it’s in your system, you can accomplish anything. An overwhelming sense of euphoria and concentration washes over you, making things like reading, writing, studying, and other projects less stressful.

Plus, with no one to share the mate with, you can really hone in on the experience.

Gourd For Two

If you don’t want to drink mate alone or share it with a large group, then keep your circle small with just one person.

Besides, as I mentioned earlier, unless you’re from South America, you won’t even find the opportunity to share mate with multiple people you know. Most are instantly turned off by either the taste or sipping from the same bombilla straw as everyone else, especially now with what the world has experienced.

It’s also hard to find a gourd large enough to serve several people. You can use an average-sized gourd but it won’t make the rounds.

For two people though? It’s perfect.

Almost all gourds are suitable for sharing with another person. It’s also a lot easier to manage the ‘circle’. As the host, you serve the mate, and your friend or loved one awaits on you to give it to them. I drink. They drink. And we pass it back and forth until it’s finished. Or when we’re both heavily caffeinated and feeling good.

Traditional rules and practices need not be applied here.

Yerba mate is a nice facilitator of conversation. Just like sharing any other drink together, it helps you connect.

Before Exercise

For those with an active lifestyle, yerba mate can be a good preworkout thanks to its caffeine content.

I drink it all the time before going to the gym and it’s helped me lose weight.

Not only because it suppresses my appetite, but also because it makes working out feel like nothing. I don’t struggle physically or mentally to get up and move after drinking it. Rather, the opposite, helping me stay consistent.

And then when I am lifting weights or running, mate helps me concentrate and focus on each movement, making each session a good one.

Final Words

In South America, yerba mate is commonly drunk when hanging with friends or at family gatherings.

In America, yerba mate is more commonly drunk alone or with one other person.

But despite where you live, this treasured tea can be consumed at any time of day and for any occasion. Whether for improving productivity, connecting with others, or getting an extra boost during your workouts, yerba mate will never let you down.

P.S. If you enjoyed this post, then you might want to check out our store to start your yerba mate journey.