Che Mate

The Guardian, Saturday October 21, 2000

Maté has an acquired taste, for Brits it may be “one of those things like Marmite that you probably have to learn to love in the cradle”.

“I like the idea of carrying your tea around and drinking it any time, any place, although in Freudian terms the whole business is deeply suspect. Holding a warm breast-shaped gourd in the hands, taking a spout into the mouth, sucking out some warm fluid and feeling better hardly bears thinking about. Best not worry. After all it keeps a great many grown men quiet down in the Southern Cone.”

Telegraph, Saturday March 6, 1999

“After about 300 years of provincial obscurity, maté is suddenly fashionable among young Argentinians and – for the first time ever- among all classes. Foreigners are interested, too. Maté has so far been touted as a slimming drink (popular with Germans), an energy drink (popular with sportsmen) and, inevitable, “the new natural Viagra” (popular with everyone)”.

Financial Times, Saturday August 7, 1999

“… Spain, Germany and Asia, where the herb, marketed as the “green tea of South America” is touted as boosting sexual potency, but the big prize is the US, where it has caught on among a new tea house trend.”

The Observer, December 13, 1998

“The poor man’s viagra: coming soon- Argentina’s favourite drink is said to boost the libido”.

“Emma Harrison, director of Culpeper herbalist, said: Maté has no known adverse side-effects. It can be infused through a tea strainer and drunk like tea. It is also anti- rheumatic and alleged to be an aphrodisiac. It is definitely an acquired taste, like most things that are good for you”.

OFM, July 2001

“I drink maté while I work. It’s our form of tea- again it keeps me alert but it is also very social”. C. F. (polo player)

Time Out, December 1998

“I would only share maté with close friends” (An Argentinian woman on the aphrodisiac effects of her national drink, which is about to be marketed here as a herbal Viagra).

Washington Post, April 11, 2000

“… and different people drink their yerba maté different ways for different reasons”.

Seattle Weekly, February 18-24, 1999

“Why 20 million South Americans can’t be wrong”.

“… It is also said to increase libido, improve male sexual performance, help in weight reduction, stop hair from turning grey, cleanse the blood of waste and toxins, reduce blood pressure, grow and repair heart tissue, boost immune response, reduce hay-fever and allergy symptoms, and relieve headaches and migraines.”

La Nación, August 17, 1999

“… ideal remedy for a hang over…”

Barbara Tunick, woman’s world writer reports; “ a drink from South America has hit U.S. shores and experts say it’s the ticket for those who love the boost of coffee but hate it’s side effects”.

Events 2005