Wednesday May 5, 2010 | 6 comments
The first time I was introduced to mate – as in yerba mate – I couldn’t help but gape at the unique and noteworthy cups that contained this Argentinian and Brazilian brew. I had never seen such a beverage before and was not adventuresome enough that first time to explore further.
A few friends and I were preoccupied with making a meal of pizza or coconut curry and almost failed to notice when a group of other college students sat down on the floor of the kitchen/dining room on the third floor of Aldrich Hall. Sam sat cross-legged in a circle with several people I did not know. They placed small cups around them and took demonstrable sips. Then I must have become distracted by my own meal because I cannot remember what happened next. Did I even see a bombilla? I cannot rely on the twists and turns of a memory susceptible to suggestion.
Several years later, in a different location altogether, my friend Cierra started to carry around a giant plastic baggy of mate and a small bombilla (with a cup that I cannot remember).
“What is that?!!”
The mate was greenish-brown, but it was the bombilla that got me. I had to have one of my own. My Grandmother made sure of that. Too bad I lost it within a month. I wonder if my friend Rebecca Doverspike (who also writes for T Ching) has seen it anywhere at her house – perhaps on a windowsill? My memory isn’t always the greatest.
Long after I lost my bombilla, I stumbled across a web site that explained that drinking mate is a shared event based on friendship and “total acceptance.” If that’s so, hopefully Kyle will forgive me for forgetting what we ate the day I was introduced to mate. And perhaps my Grandmother (not that I have ever told her) will forgive me for losing the bombilla. And Rebecca – I hope she will find it in her heart to accept the bombilla as a present for letting me stay at her house for three weeks. This is belated, I know.
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Your post made me smile… as my daughters also went through a “must drink from my own bombilla” phase after seeing the handsome Gael García Bernal drinking from one in the movie “Motorcycle Diaries”. But since first getting to trying different mates at that time (2004?) it’s been quite interesting to see how varied they are – we actually source an organic green, not roasted, variety that comes from Brasil, as it’s been shown to be very high in antioxidants and non-carcinogenic (as some of the roasted mates are, unfortunately). And… i too, have misplaced or lost my bombilla – but that’s OK – never quite learned how to appreciate sipping a hot beverage through a steel straw ;)
Alex, this is wonderful. :) I wrote about Yerba Mate this month too! How amazing. So, even though we’re too far away to share out of the same bombilla, at least our Mate experiences are still overlapping. I never did find your bombilla on any windowsills, but it’s such a poetic thought. I hope some windowsill somewhere does have it. :) I say drink more Yerba Mate to sharpen your memory (though I think it’s actually quite good) and um, keep an eye on your mailbox. :P This was so lovely to read, Alex!
Wow, my dear friend Becki!!! Thank you, that was so sweet. I just got it today ;)
Also, can I actually drink out of it? I can’t tell because the instructions are written in Spanish! hehe
Maria, I have also watched Motorcycle Diaries recently. Actually, within the past few months. I’ve heard some criticism but I really enjoyed it, myself. I don’t remember him drinking from the bombilla, though!
HOT DOG, swell article Alex! I am drinking mate right now! Bonefied addict. Truly in love with my mate.