Fans attending World Cup matches are bringing more than just flags and jerseys. They are sharing yerba mate, a caffeinated beverage popular in South America. This drink is gaining popularity in the United States, favored by athletes. In Kansas City, Missouri, Argentine supporters were seen outside hotels enjoying mate from gourd cups with metal straws called bombillas.
Cafe Corazon, noted for importing yerba mate, witnessed a surge in interest. Co-owner Dulcinea Herrera revealed, “Our mate has been flying off the shelves.” Both Argentinians and curious visitors are exploring this unique experience.
“Oh, this reminds me of home.”
The drink resonates with sports stars like Lionel Messi, who famously held a mate cup beside the World Cup trophy. Cultural anthropologist Christine Folch explains mate’s origins and variations worldwide. Countries such as Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil celebrate the drink in unique ways.
The beverage became popular in Syria and Lebanon in the early 20th century. In America, mate is often sold as a natural energy drink, while in Berlin, Club Mate is mixed with alcohol.
Folch emphasizes the social aspect of mate: sharing the same cup fosters relationships. Fans René and Sebastián Cufré, visiting Kansas City for the match, exemplified this by sharing mate with fellow Argentine fans.
Sebastián noted, “It’s like something you pass around during the games.” He prefers traditional mate over the canned American versions.
Fernando Villagran from California encourages North Americans to try mate when encountering it. “It is about friendship,” Villagran asserts, highlighting the drink’s social significance.
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