Rediscovering the mate

“Let’s Drink Mate” is born from the conjunction of two passions: web development and, of course, mate. My name is Leandro, I’m a web developer, and I live in Mendoza, Argentina. This is a story of change, exploration, and overcoming. It’s my story alongside mate.

In general, I was never someone who drank mate; I always preferred to drink coffee or tea. In fact, I couldn’t understand why people liked this drink so much. My wife tried several times to introduce me to this Argentinean custom so that I would incorporate it into my routine, although ultimately her achievement was that I would occasionally accompany her with two or three mates. I don’t know if it was the taste or the need to know the technique to prepare it and depend on the type of yerba, maybe the need for a thermos and bombilla… the point is that mate still didn’t appeal to me.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant changes in society, and I was no exception. In my case, it led me to rethink my profession to the extent that I left the company I was working for and transitioned from a commercial and consumer-facing role to becoming a software developer.

This change was by no means easy; it was a rather complex journey full of learning, self-awareness, and exploration, which led me to rediscover our beloved yerba mate infusion. In those mornings or afternoons of study and work, I realized that mate is great company, and besides all its benefits, I gradually noticed that it somehow served as a “grounding wire.” Was I going through a tough time? I’d have a few mates to make it more bearable. Did I have difficulty solving a logic problem? With a few mates, I’d clear my mind, gain more focus, and manage to solve it. Was I happy for some reason? I’d celebrate with a few mates. And that’s how I gradually incorporated it, learning more about this drink, exploring its flavors, and growing fond of it.

That’s how my profession, the pursuit of learning new technologies, and my passion for mate led me to create this site with the intention of sharing this South American tradition with others, which, besides providing biological benefits to our bodies, provides company, support, and motivation. Whether we enjoy it alone or with others, it’s always a good time to have some good mates.