Top professional athletes constantly seek methods to enhance their performance, understanding that even minor adjustments to their lifestyle, training, and diet can yield significant differences.
Lately, an increasing number of footballers have adopted the practice of drinking yerba mate – a beverage also enjoyed by figures like the late Pope Francis. This trend has expanded across the Atlantic, moving from South America into Europe.
While the drink offers numerous health advantages, its preparation and sharing also hold significant social value for those participating. So, what exactly is this popular drink? Here’s a look at mate, which footballers are fans, and how to make it.
What is Yerba Mate?
Known as Mate (pronounced mah-teh) or Yerba Mate, this traditional South American hot beverage is brewed from dried and chopped yerba mate leaves and is rich in caffeine.
It possesses a bitter taste and is widely consumed in nations like Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil, along with Syria and Lebanon.
Occasionally referred to as chimarrao in Portuguese or cimarron in Spanish, its history originates with the indigenous Guarani and Tupi communities of South America.
This beverage is typically enjoyed in a social context among friends, where participants often drink from a single shared container.
Although commonly consumed hot, mate can also be prepared and served as a cold iced tea.
Which Footballers Drink Yerba Mate?
As a traditional South American beverage, it`s unsurprising that prominent athletes from countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay frequently drink mate.
Arguably the most famous player who enjoys the drink is eight-time Ballon d`Or recipient Lionel Messi, the Inter Miami forward often seen holding his mate gourd on social media platforms.
Messi`s colleague at Miami, Luis Suarez, is also a keen drinker, as are fellow Argentinians Sergio Aguero and Liverpool midfielder Alexis MacAllister.
French World Cup champions Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba reportedly include it in their routines, similar to Brazilian superstar Neymar.
Former Argentina international Gonzalo Higuain was featured drinking mate in the Netflix series First Team: Juventus and has shared it with South American peers like Douglas Costa and Rodrigo Bentancur.
Notably, the habit of drinking mate spread to England before the 2018 World Cup, thanks to several Tottenham players who introduced it to the national squad. Eric Dier mentioned that the South American contingent at the club, including Erik Lamela, Juan Foyth, and then-manager Mauricio Pochettino, played a role in popularizing the custom.
Since that time, Dier, along with Danny Rose and Dele Alli, have incorporated it into their regimen. Dier stated in 2018 that “Quite a lot of the players at Tottenham have started drinking it… I am a bit addicted to it now.”
What are the Health Benefits of Yerba Mate?
As you might expect, the primary reason mate is so popular among footballers stems from its associated health benefits. As a caffeine-rich drink, it serves as a stimulant, much like tea or coffee, and is believed to enhance focus and elevate mood, potentially helping to promote better sleep.
Due to the polyphenol antioxidants it contains, the beverage is also considered a helpful dietary aid for weight management, similar to green tea. It also provides essential vitamins B and C, vital for metabolic function and immune support, respectively.
How to Prepare Mate Tea
What Supplies Are Needed?
- Dried yerba mate leaves
- Gourd (or cup)
- Bombilla (filtered straw)
- Flask (for hot water)
How to Make a Mate Drink
Preparing mate is quite simple and resembles making other hot steeped beverages.
It is traditionally served in a gourd, often made from a calabash squash, and consumed through a metal or bamboo straw called a bombilla, which acts as a filter.
The gourd is filled about halfway to three-quarters full with dried yerba leaves. The person preparing it then covers the top and shakes it gently to settle the leaves.
The straw is then inserted into the gourd, followed by a small amount of cold water. After the cold water moistens the leaves and settles, hot (but not boiling) water is added. Those trying mate for the first time might find the taste quite bitter; you can add honey or sugar to sweeten it, although this is often frowned upon by traditional drinkers.
Gourds and bombillas can be elaborately decorated, with silver being a traditional material for the straw.
