The discovery of yerba mate can be attributed to the Kaingang ethnic group, who consumed the raw leaves about 3000 years BCE.

However, it was the Guarani (indigenous people of some South American countries) who discovered the benefits of yerba mate and worked on perfecting  its technique and process, by placing the leaves in a gourd with water and sipping the liquid through straws made from sugar cane.

The word “mate” comes from the Guarani term “Caa-mate”: “Caa” means plant or herb, and “mate” refers to the gourd they used to drink it. They also understood its nutritional value and sometimes chewed the leaves directly, like the Kaingang.

In addition to appreciating the health benefits of yerba mate, they also worshipped it as a sacred gift from the gods and gave it a special and spiritual meaning. They worshipped it and believed that by drinking yerba mate, they were consuming the power of the jungle. As a result, it later became a currency of exchange with other pre-Hispanic groups like the Incas, and other native groups in South America who eventually adopted yerba mate in their own cultures.

During the colonization of South America by the Spanish, they were introduced to the use and benefits of yerba mate by the Guarani people. As a result, it quickly gained widespread popularity and was soon transported to all territories under Spanish rule.

The Jesuit missionaries played a significant role in spreading the consumption of yerba mate throughout the continent. They believed that commercializing yerba mate would have enormous economic potential, so they conducted research to understand why the yerba mate tree could only grow in this particular region of the world. They later discovered that toucans, tropical birds in Central and South America, pre-digested the seeds of the tree. This discovery was later confirmed by the French naturalist Aimé Bonpland.

The Spanish Jesuits were pioneers in the cultivation, transportation, and commercialization of yerba mate, although they preferred to drink it in tea bags instead of using straws  like the Guaraní people . This is why yerba mate became known as “The Jesuit tea” at some point in history.

The gauchos, who are the Argentine cowboys, settled in different regions of South America, including Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Chile, and Bolivia. They were known for their independent and semi-nomadic way of life in rural areas. The gauchos hunted wild cattle brought by the Spanish and Portuguese colonizers and built settlements and cities. They were pioneers in preparing the traditional barbecues known as “asado”, which has become deeply rooted in countries like Argentina.

In their interaction with native groups, the gauchos adopted yerba mate as a part of their identity, along with horseback riding and their typical leather clothing. They drank mate in groups, for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and before bed. The tradition of drinking mate became an enduring part of their culture. These cowboys would gather around a fire and, along with the beef asado, it was common to heat up water and pass around a cup of mate from hand to hand.

During the process of Argentina’s independence in the 19th century, the habit of drinking mate became further embedded in the country’s folklore until our days, becoming the National Drink of Argentina, and extending around South America and the world.