Chapter 6
Yerba Mate, Tereré or Chimarrão?
Different Countries, Historical Legacy,
and Similar Preparations
Abstract This chapter concerns the cultural history of Ilex paraguariensis as a
single vegetable species belonging to the Aquifoliaceae family, found naturally in
Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The original name recalls immediately
the Paraguay name because of its original habitat, the humid forests surrounding
the Paraná River in eastern Paraguay. Historically, the yerba mate infusion is known
for centuries, before the arrival of Spanish conquistadores and the Jesuits. After the
expulsion of the Jesuits, yerba mate remained a cultural tradition for the Mestizo
population, the local criollos. Nowadays, yerba mate is extremely popular in South
America and other continents. However, there are different yerba mate products,
depending on processes, packaging choices, national or regional habits, and also
the mode of consumption. The non-accustomed consumer is probably unaware of
this situation. The cultural heritage of yerba mate is a notable key factor explaining
partially the success of this plant worldwide.
Keywords Chimarrão · Cultural heritage · Guaranì · Ilex paraguariensis ·
Mestizo · Tererê · Yerba mate
6.1 Yerba Mate, History, and National/Regional Traditions
Ilex paraguariensis is a single species belonging to the Aquifoliaceae family, and
it is found naturally in the following South American countries: Brazil, Argentina,
Paraguay, and Uruguay. The original name—I. paraguariensis—recalls immediately
the Paraguay name because of its original habitat, the humid forests surrounding the
Paraná River in eastern Paraguay (Folch 2010). Historically, the yerba mate infusion
is known for centuries, before the arrival of Spanish conquistadores and the Jesuits. In
fact, the ancient tradition is a cultural heritage of the Guaraní population. Because of
the commercial interest of the Jesuits, yerba mate—Guaraní name: ka’a; commercial
name: ‘Jesuit tea’ or ‘Paraguayan tea’—became extremely popular in South America,
with some export activity to Europe. After the expulsion of the Jesuits, yerba mate
remained a cultural tradition for the Mestizo population (Spanish and Guaraní mixed
origin), the local criollos (Kujawska 2018; Rau 2009).
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
C. Iommi, Chemistry and Safety of South American Yerba Mate Teas,
Chemistry of Foods, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69614-6_6
63
Yerba Mate, Tereré or Chimarrão?
Different Countries, Historical Legacy,
and Similar Preparations
Abstract This chapter concerns the cultural history of Ilex paraguariensis as a
single vegetable species belonging to the Aquifoliaceae family, found naturally in
Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The original name recalls immediately
the Paraguay name because of its original habitat, the humid forests surrounding
the Paraná River in eastern Paraguay. Historically, the yerba mate infusion is known
for centuries, before the arrival of Spanish conquistadores and the Jesuits. After the
expulsion of the Jesuits, yerba mate remained a cultural tradition for the Mestizo
population, the local criollos. Nowadays, yerba mate is extremely popular in South
America and other continents. However, there are different yerba mate products,
depending on processes, packaging choices, national or regional habits, and also
the mode of consumption. The non-accustomed consumer is probably unaware of
this situation. The cultural heritage of yerba mate is a notable key factor explaining
partially the success of this plant worldwide.
Keywords Chimarrão · Cultural heritage · Guaranì · Ilex paraguariensis ·
Mestizo · Tererê · Yerba mate
6.1 Yerba Mate, History, and National/Regional Traditions
Ilex paraguariensis is a single species belonging to the Aquifoliaceae family, and
it is found naturally in the following South American countries: Brazil, Argentina,
Paraguay, and Uruguay. The original name—I. paraguariensis—recalls immediately
the Paraguay name because of its original habitat, the humid forests surrounding the
Paraná River in eastern Paraguay (Folch 2010). Historically, the yerba mate infusion
is known for centuries, before the arrival of Spanish conquistadores and the Jesuits. In
fact, the ancient tradition is a cultural heritage of the Guaraní population. Because of
the commercial interest of the Jesuits, yerba mate—Guaraní name: ka’a; commercial
name: ‘Jesuit tea’ or ‘Paraguayan tea’—became extremely popular in South America,
with some export activity to Europe. After the expulsion of the Jesuits, yerba mate
remained a cultural tradition for the Mestizo population (Spanish and Guaraní mixed
origin), the local criollos (Kujawska 2018; Rau 2009).
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
C. Iommi, Chemistry and Safety of South American Yerba Mate Teas,
Chemistry of Foods, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69614-6_6
63