Visiting South America, I was often invited to share a mate, by friendly and curious people. Having a mate or terere means sharing stories and being part of a deeply cultural ritual.

Visiting South America, I was often invited to share a mate, by friendly and curious people. Having a mate or terere means sharing stories and being part of a deeply cultural ritual.
Violeta Parra was a folklorist and an ethnomusicologist, a poet, a musician, a painter, a sculptor and a tapestry maker. Above all, however, her work captured Chile’s history, its culture, and its pain.
The story of how Yerba Mate was first discovered and then spread through South America is a fascinating tale that includes legends, politics, religion, intrigue, slavery, war and innovation.