Tea Consumption in Brazil
Herbal Tea or Tisane which derives from ancient oriental culture is the most consumed beverage in the world after water. In Brazil, people use the word tea to define any beverage that is made from the infusion or decoction of herbs, spices or other plant material with hot water.
For Brazilians, tea used to be something you drank only when you were sick but nowadays it is getting more popular, especially as a means to lose weight. Medicinal tea properties are very attractive to consumers who buy tea for health purpose and also end up enjoying the taste.
The mate
Another Brazilian passion is the chá-mate, a tisane made with the mate herb, also known as erva-mate, used in typical drinks like chimarrão, mate doce and tereré. These beverages are traditional in Southern Brazil and are served in a container named cuia. The cuia is a sealed container and you drink the chá-mate through a kind of straw made of steel which has a small strainer attached to it, called a bomba. Even though these drinks are based on the same herb there are differences between them.
Chimarrão is basically hot water and erva-mate, which is usually boiled and is very hot so be careful to not burn your mouth. It is also consumed in Argentina, Bolívia and Southern Chile. If someone invites you to drink it, remember four basic rules
- The host is the first one to take a drink of it
- Do not try to remove the bomba. This metal straw can not be removed. If it is removed or dislodged you will need a piece of wire to unblock it
- You have to drink it all, you will know when it is finished as it will make a wheezing noise when you suck on the straw
- If there are more than 2 people drinking it, it is important to remember to pass the drink round in a circle. For example, if there are three people the last one who drank it must give it back to the first one who drank it
In the mate doce, instead of water, hot milk is mixed with herbs that have a sweet taste, like camomile, lemon balm or anise. The beverage can also be sweetened with caramel. There are some recipes that include cinnamon and clove. The drink is decorated with grated coconut and camomile flowers. Drinking it with popcorn or cake is very popular.
Tereré is made with cold water and lots of ice cubes. Curiously, the colder it is the better and stronger the herbs taste. Some people prefer to replace water with juice, generally lime juice. The herb in this drink is a little different from that used in chimarrão and mate doce. The mate is grounded with mint, to give a refreshing taste. Tereré is also common in the Midwestern areas of Brazil and Paraguay.
These types of tisane have rituals for their preparation and drinking. The proportion of herbs to water or milk is always half and half. They are ideal to drink in groups, sharing the same cuia and bomba. This may sound a little unhygienic, but never say this to someone that enjoys drinking it, they may feel offended because it is their way to unite friends and family. Usually, these mate drinks, are consumed at the end of the day to relax after work.