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Ucranian immigrants cropping yerba mate in Tres Capones, Misiones, Argentina. House of V. Hnatiuk (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Plantation in Misiones, Argentina. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Pope Francis and the drink of Peace: Yerba Mate
June 21, 2013 · by Look South · in Argentina, South America, Tourism, Tours, Travel. ·
In the midst of political, religious, national, economic or personal problems, there is one thing that unites all Argentines: Mate.
Mate (pronounced máh-teh) despite what many people may say, is NOT in fact a herbal green tea although it is similar to one. Mate is a tea-like drink made from a green-colored jerboa (herb) that is a lot more robust than tea. For Argentines, mate is the very heart of life and is part of their tradition. It is drunk by the old and young, rich and poor, Peronists and Radicals, parents and children, during winter and summer
After years of conflict, Argentina’s President Cristina Kirchner greeted the new Pope Francis with a beautiful mate set – el “mate de la paz” – after which the pope asked her to stay for lunch with “unos mates” to follow”. Rocco Palmo noted on the occasion that: “A longstanding Vatican protocol forbids the Pope being seen consuming anything but the Eucharist”, but this did not stop him being photographed enjoying the drink.
via Pope Francis and the drink of Peace: Yerba Mate | Look South.
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