Tereré

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A mate containing tereré.
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A mate containing tereré.
A horn made Guampa.
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A horn made Guampa.
Drinking Tereré with a Guampa through a silver straw called "Bombilla", usually Tereré is drinking socially.
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Drinking Tereré with a Guampa through a silver straw called "Bombilla", usually Tereré is drinking socially.

Tereré is an infusion of mate, similar to chimarrão but prepared with cold water (rather than with hot water), and in a slightly larger vessel. It is common in northeastern Argentina, southern and western Brazil, and Paraguay.

When not prepared with plain cold water, citrus fruit juices are usually used. Lime and orange juices are used in Argentina and Paraguay, while in Brazil lime and pineapple juice are more common. However, the vast majority of people take their terere with water with remedial herbs, with terere taken with juice called "terere ruso" due to the fact that taking terere with juices is more popular among immigrant non-Hispanic populations than Spanish and guarani speaking paraguayan people.

In some parts of Argentina, Tereré is seen as a lesser form of mate, and its drinking hardly ever follows the traditional ritual.

First invented by the Guaranís Indians who lived in Paraguay and western Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul), tereré was diffused for the colons in that region, and is for centuries a social beverage. People usually prepare one jar of natural water and a "guampa" which is shared among the group of people. Since Paraguay and Mato Grosso do Sul have a very hot climate, this drink is excellent to refresh the body and can be considered a low calorie non-alcoholic beverage.

Guampas are gourds that can be made from animal horns, usually made from ox horns. The new guampa or the one not used for some time needs to be watered before use, because the lower part of the guampa is usually capped with a round piece of leather. By filling the guampa with water the leather expands, covering all leaks in the guampa.


[edit] Tereré in Paraguay

Tereré is a typical drink from Paraguay. It is very popular among young and old people. It is also common to see students going to school with a Guampa and their thermos underneath their arms filled with plenty of ice and water, for summer temperatures can reach 40° to 45° C (104° to 113° F).

Workers use to have a "tereré break" instead of a coffee break. In most workplaces, Tereré is allowed among other things because the yerba mate has stimulant effects that can be likened to the role of coffee in an American workplace.

As a popular remedy, the people of Paraguay heal various ailments such as headache, stomachache, diarrhea by adding medicinal herbs into the water.

The act of drinking Tereré is more than just that, however. Often is an excuse to share and chat with a partner, meet new people or when drinking alone, just for meditation at the end of the day.

[edit] See also