I’ve always looked forward to Sunday BBQs with my family, passing around the bitter yet satisfying warmth of mate and munching on our homemade Tortillas de Papa. As I circled through the motions of pouring the hot water over the yerba, herbal scents rose from the gourd, intertwining with the smoky BBQ smell. I would watch my cousin smile and nod, sending a warmth through me that had nothing to do with the tea itself. 
That's why I believe mate is more than just a drink- it's a community ritual. Whenever I see the yerba herbal tea and the metal bombilla, a straw, I think about how mate brings people together, passing from hand to hand in a rhythm of trust and connection. 
Mate is a common beverage in Latin America and Argentina, where my family is from. I still remember my grandmother telling me stories about mate and the way Los Gauchos would farm on the wide plains of Argentina. I imagine them after their long hours of work, hands rough and bodies tired, simply sharing a mate under the sun. Not rich men or poor men- just people. That image always stayed with me: mate didn’t belong to one class but to everyone. It was a reminder that no matter who you are or where you come from, you could sit, sip mate, and feel part of something bigger. 

– SG

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant