Mate cocido facts for kids
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| Type | Hot or cold beverage |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Paraguay |
| Introduced | 17th century |
Mate cocido (which means boiled mate) is a popular drink in South America. People in countries like Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil enjoy it a lot. It's also called chá mate in Portuguese or kojoi in Guarani.
This drink is made from yerba mate leaves. It's prepared by boiling the leaves in water, then straining them. It tastes a bit bitter, similar to regular mate, but it's usually milder. Just like mate, it can give you energy and has good nutrients. You can also find mate cocido in tea bags, making it easy to prepare, just like regular tea.
Contents
A Brief History of Mate Cocido
In the early 1600s, a group called the Jesuits lived in parts of what is now southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. They became very good at growing yerba mate plants. They started exporting it to other places.
Spain wanted to compete with the tea that England was selling. So, Spain began selling chopped yerba mate to make a tea-like drink. This drink became very popular in Europe and was known as the "Tea of the Jesuits."
This "Tea of the Jesuits" from the 17th century is what we now call mate cocido. It's a very common drink today. Since yerba mate is often cheaper than tea or coffee, mate cocido became a popular drink in schools, hospitals, and even prisons starting in the early 1900s.
How Mate Cocido is Made
Making mate cocido from tea bags is quite simple. The main difference from regular yerba mate is how it's processed. For mate cocido, the leaves are carefully sorted. Any dust or small sticks are removed. Only the clean leaves are used.
You can also find mate cocido in a soluble form. This means it's like an instant powder. You just add hot water, and it dissolves, making it even quicker to prepare.
Different Kinds of Mate Cocido
There are a few ways people enjoy mate cocido:
- Traditional: This is the classic version made from yerba mate. Some people like to add milk and sugar to make it sweeter.
- Flavored: This type has extra flavors added to it. You might find mate cocido with flavors like lemon, peach, vanilla, orange, or tangerine.
- Iced Mate Cocido: Also known as "cold mate cocido," this is a very refreshing drink. It's simply the traditional or flavored mate cocido served cold. People often add ice and a squeeze of lemon juice to it.
See also
In Spanish: Mate cocido para niños
