health benefits, hospitality and tradition

The chimarrãoso appreciated by the gauchos – Argentines, Castilians, Santa Catarina and Paraná – has a day dedicated especially to him: April 24th. The date is established by State Law No. 11,929, of June 20, 2003. Furthermore, because it is so present in everyday life, it is considered drink symbol of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. But, beyond what the laws regulate, chimarrão – also called mate – has nothing bitter in its meaning, on the contrary: is a brand of hospitality and friendship.

The drink made from an infusion of yerba mateserved in a gourd, is a legacy of Indian people. As historian Janaína Souza Teixeira reports, the custom originates from the Guarani nation, dating back even before Christ. In the beginning, the herb called “caá” was used by the tribes as a religious ritual. With the arrival of the Jesuit priests – who were completely unaware of that custom – the drink was banned. The years passed and the colonizers began to see yerba mate with different eyes. First, with economic biasthrough the planting of herbs, which could fuel exports and the consequent maintenance of Jesuit missions. The second, nutritional, as it brought more energy to those who maintained the habit.

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-Research shows that the use was probably initially ritualistic. It was not the way we know it today. The colonizer is the one who established chimarrão as a form of conversation and socialization. Therefore, throughout this process, until reaching the mate industry, we had some changes in the ways of taking chimarrão – says Janaína.

Over time, mate has become popular among the inhabitants of southern Brazil and neighboring countriessuch as Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. In Rio Grande do Sulespecially, drinking is seen as a way to keep the tradition of our ancestors alive. For the coordinator of the 13th Traditionalist Region, Luiz Marcos Pozzobon Júnior, the drink represents the fraternity of the gaucho people and that is why it is encouraged within the Gaucho Traditions Centers (CTG). As he explains, mate is capable of connecting people of different ages, cultures and ideologies.

– In addition to being a symbol of Gaucho culture and tradition, it is an element of friendship. When you woke up in the morning, in the past, in the ranches and warehouses, you killed yourself. Mate was passed from hand to hand, and it remains that way. Chimarrão is part of everyday life in Rio Grande do Sul – he says.

Nutritional properties of chimarrão

The yerba mateused to prepare chimarrão, It is of the species Ilex paraguariensis. The tree has its leaves and branches harvested, dried and crushed. The process that was previously manual, It is currently made industrially. However, in addition to the cultural aspects, chimarrão can also be considered a nutritional drink. According to nutritionist Cátia Regina Storck, the infusion – hot water over the herb, dilutes compounds such as vitamin C and E. This means that when taking chimarrão, the body receives antioxidant, healing, and growth and maintenance properties of body tissues. Other than these, Complex B vitamins, also present in the herb, act on the central nervous system. They are responsible for helping with blood circulation and cell growth and division.

Another benefit, according to the nutritionist, is the protection against negative effects of free radicals, such as cell aging. The habit that some people have of taking chimarrão in the morning or while studying and working does not happen by accident. The caffeine present in yerba mate It is effective in accelerating metabolism, increasing energy and reducing the feeling of fatigue.

– Chimarrão has no contraindications, except for people who are more sensitive to hot water. Only for children under two years of age, we do not recommend it, precisely because of the presence of caffeine. Each person has a different sensitivity. There are people who can become more alert with just a gourd of chimarrão. For others, this can disrupt sleep. It’s a situation that varies – says the nutritionist.

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