Tereré – our way to beat the heat!

There’s nothing like warming the body and stimulating the mind with a hot infusion of your favourite yerba mate. But what happens when the sun starts beating down and your body, worn out by the heat, craves energising refreshment? For mate lovers, there’s only one answer: tereré – yerba mate served cold.

Summary:

1. What is tereré? The power of tradition with a tropical backdrop
2. Tereré break – more than just a drink, it’s a social ritual
3. How does it work? How to make tereré?
4. Alternative ways to enjoy yerba mate tereré

What is tereré? The power of tradition with a tropical backdrop

Tereré is yerba mate – only in a very refreshing version: brewed with ice-cold water, sometimes with added ice cubes, fresh fruit, or herbs. The history of tereré dates back to the times of the indigenous peoples of South America, and the name comes from the language of the Guarani tribe – the first true fans of yerba mate – and is an onomatopoeic word imitating the slurping sound made when sipping the last drops of the drink through a bombilla.

Although the custom of drinking yerba mate “cold” was originally practiced by indigenous peoples, it soon spread among European settlers, who appreciated its stimulating and cooling properties. Today, tereré is most popular in Paraguay, Argentina, and some regions of Brazil. It’s in those parts, where the hot, tropical climate dominates, that cold yerba mate is consumed almost as frequently as its classic – brewed – version.

Tereré break – more than just a drink, it’s a social ritual

In Paraguay, not a day goes by without tereré. The icy yerba mate is not only a way to survive the stifling heat – it’s also a daily ritual, a moment of relaxation, and a means of building relationships.

Just as we enjoy coffee breaks in our culture, in Paraguay people talk about the tereré break. The last Saturday of February has even been officially designated as Tereré Day. And in 2020, the tradition of “brewing” yerba mate cold was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. That’s serious business!

How do Latin Americans drink tereré?

Cold yerba mate is most often served in a special vessel known as a guampa. Traditionally, it is made from cow or buffalo horn or even a hoof (yes, really!). Today, you can easily find wooden, ceramic, or metal versions too – often decorative, leather-bound, and with a convenient handle.

A second indispensable element for every tereré enthusiast is the thermos. But not your average kind! Latin thermoses (like the traditional Pozo de Agua available in our store) are large, wide-mouthed, and often richly ornamented. They easily hold not just water, but ice cubes, herbs, or fruit slices. Slung over the shoulder, they accompany Paraguayans literally everywhere – at work, school, university, out on a walk or at a picnic.

In Paraguay, a mate cup or guampa filled with cold tereré is like a cup of coffee in the hands of a European – you’ll see them in nearly every hand! Everyone drinks it: young people, the elderly, students, workers. Everywhere you go – the streets, the parks – you’ll see groups of friends sharing tereré, chatting, laughing, and chilling. It’s far more than just a drink – it’s a ritual.

How does it work? How to make tereré?

Making tereré doesn’t require any complicated technique. All you need is good-quality yerba mate, some ice, and a bit of patience. But to ensure your drink turns out really well, it’s worth sticking to a few simple rules – in this case, the temperature really makes a difference!

Unlike the traditional hot infusion, yerba mate brewed cold releases its flavours and benefits more slowly – but it still packs its signature energising power. Cold yerba mate still contains caffeine (mateine), which provides a gentle but effective energy kick.

Add-ins – what to toss into your tereré?

That depends entirely on your imagination! The classic version includes only the leaves and cold water, but Latin Americans often love to experiment with extras. Traditionally, they add what are known as yuyos – fresh herbs crushed in a mortar. These are used not only for flavour, but also for their health-promoting properties.

You can read more about the different herbs traditionally added to yerba mate on our blog: Yuyos – herbs in yerba mate. Discover new flavours and properties!

Most popular tereré add-ins:

• ✔ Mint – a herbal classic, providing a natural cooling effect;
• ✔ Sage, boldo, burrito – herbs that may help ease digestive issues;
• ✔ Citrus – fresh slices or dried peel – lime, lemon, orange, grapefruit;
• ✔ Fruit pieces – watermelon, pineapple, mango, apple, peach;
• ✔ Other, more unique additions – rosehip, verbena, goji berries.

And which yerba mate to choose for making tereré?

You can technically use any yerba mate to make a cold drink. However, if you really want to experience the full flavour and refreshing effect, it’s best to choose blends that are specifically designed to be prepared as tereré – light, fresh, often infused with fruits, herbs or natural flavourings. Our recommendations:

• Verde Mate Green Tereré – light and tropical, with fruit pieces and aromatic orange peel, made for summer!
• Kurupi Tereré Mega Menta – traditional, strong Paraguayan yerba mate with natural bitterness and a cooling effect from its minty add-ins – ideal for fans of intense notes.

Alternative ways to enjoy yerba mate tereré

In the classic version, tereré is made using ice-cold water and yerba mate leaves. Sometimes ice, herbs, or fruit chunks are added to highlight the flavour and intensify its refreshing effect. But... who says you have to stick with just water? South Americans know very well that a bit of imagination can completely change the taste and nature of the infusion.

Here are a few ideas on how to prepare cold yerba mate in unconventional ways.

Mate ruso – a sweeter, fruitier version of tereré

Can cold yerba mate be... sweet and fruity? Absolutely! This variation has an interesting origin story – it dates back to the first half of the 20th century, when Ukrainian immigrants settled in Paraguay. For people from colder climates, the bitter taste of yerba mate was hard to take. So, they decided to mellow it by using chilled fruit juice instead of water.

This gave rise to mate ruso – yerba mate brewed with ice-cold citrus juice, such as orange or lime. The result? A light, fruity drink that still gives you a boost, but is much milder in character.

Yerba mate with... beer? Yerba mate cerveza!

Sounds surprising? And yet it exists! In South America, you’ll also come across yerba mate served with a light beer, such as a radler. Called yerba mate cerveza, it’s becoming increasingly popular as a refreshing alternative to more traditional summertime drinks.

• To prepare yerba mate cerveza, opt for a light wheat beer, fruity radler – like lemon or orange flavoured – or even non-alcoholic beer.
• Be sure to add plenty of ice and slices of fruit – the result will be spectacular!
• This option is perfect for a laid-back weekend afternoon in the garden, rather than a mid-week work break. 😉

Note: If you’re planning to try your hand at making yerba mate cerveza, don’t go overboard with the beer – the goal is not to get tipsy, but to maximise refreshment and create an interesting flavour combination.

Tereré “cold brew” – no bombilla or mate gourd needed, just creativity

Don’t have a bombilla yet? Or maybe you want to prepare tereré in a larger quantity? Try the cold brew method! It’s a great minimalist option – especially if you like having a ready-to-drink infusion waiting in the fridge. What will you need? A French press or simply a glass jug and a strainer.

Tereré is a truly versatile drink. You can enjoy it straight – the classic way, with ice-cold water – or dressed up with juice, beer, or herbs. It works as a morning energy boost and coffee alternative, but also as a relaxing, refreshing beverage with friends on a hot afternoon. However you choose to brew it – it always delivers cool relief and fantastic flavour. Experiment, mix it up, try new combinations! Yerba mate tereré offers plenty of freedom – and with each version, you’ll discover it anew.

You don’t have to travel to Paraguay to experience the spirit of South America…

...all you need is a vessel, a bombilla, a good packet of yerba mate and ice-cold water!

Tereré is our go-to summer companion – light, refreshing, all-natural. What about you? Do you have your own recipe for the perfect cold yerba mate? Check out the wide range of yerba mate in our shop, match it with the right accessories and explore without limits. We wish you a delicious yerba mate and plenty of refreshment during hot summer days!

Sources:

1. Wikipedia: Mate (drink), Tereré.
2. C.I. Heck, E.G. De Mejia, Yerba Mate Tea (Ilex paraguariensis): A Comprehensive Review on Chemistry, Health Implications, and Technological Considerations, Journal of Food Science, 2007.