Food & Culture Night

Last Wednesday was a beautiful celebration of the Argentine Culture. 

Everyone from our program went to Eldita's Residencia to take part. Everyone was also asked to bring something to drink and of course, almost everyone in our program brought wine to drink except me, haha. Due to my chronic migraines and the medication I take to keep them from coming, I'm really not supposed to drink very much because it can lead to more migraines. In Argentina, wine is cheaper than water, so you can understand why a bunch of college students would gladly opt out to buying that instead (I brought an apple flavored soda, yummm).

Pamela probably yelling "OYE CHICOS! Atención!" 

We all gathered in the living room and listened attentively as Pamela started her presentation about the food and culture of Argentina. Mate is a traditional South American caffeine-rich infused drink. Mate is prepared from the dried leaves of yerba mate (pronounced cherba in BA). It's served through a metal straw (bombija) from a hollow cup (gourd). This Argentine tea could easily be considered part of the epicenter of Argentine food & drink culture. It is the national drink of Argentina, and is a very common social practice.It was first consumed by the indigenous people of the area and of course spread during the arrival of the Spanish to Latin America. Mate also contains several vitamins and minerals important to human health like vitamin A, calcium, iron, and more.

To prepare mate is a simple, but time consuming process. As some of you may know Latin Americans use meal times and social gatherings like drinking mate as an opportunity to develop relationships. First, you fill the gourd with yerba, pouring hot water (NOT boiling) over the leaves. The straw (bombilla) acts as a filter so that you only consume the water, not the leaves. Some people (like me) enjoy a sweeter mate, so adding a little bit of sugar can add that sweet kick you may be craving. After the yerba is given more water you drink all of the liquid, pass it back to the server who puts in more water, and the mate is given to the next person in the cycle.

Mate: That green from South America

Like I said before, Latin Americans use meal/tea times as opportunities the develop relationships. We are an embracive, sharing culture. The same gourd and straw are used by everyone drinking mate. No such thing as germaphobes here. One person is the server which means their job is to refill the gourd after the water is gone and to keep track of who gets the mate next. Everyone continues to pass the mate around the circle until it becomes lavado (washed out). Then you just repeats the steps and continue drinking the mate.

Pamela, told us there are 4 major benefits of mate.

1. It has caffeine (keeps you awake!) 
2. It helps make you feel full (which would have been useful for the indigenous and poorer people of Argentina, it helps boost your metabolism) 
3. Aids digestion (cleans that colon) 
4. Enhances ability to focus (the study drink of students here) 

Rachel & I showing off our dinner

After drinking the Mate, Eldita (the house mama) served us some of the most delicious empandas I have ever had. Empanadas as you can see are a stuffed bread pastry that is usually baked or fried. Eldita's were filled with delicious beef. Once I took my first bite all of my taste buds roared in excitement "OMG THANK YOU" and my stomach screamed, "AWE MAN THIS STUFF IS GREAT. KEEP IT GOIN'". All in all it was a wonderful food & culture night.

One day at a time, I'm turning Porteño. Watch out chicos!

Con mucho amor, 

Julietta