Tereré
Tereré (of Guaraní origin) is an infusion of yerba mate (botanical name Ilex paraguariensis) prepared with cold water, a lot of ice and pohá ñaná (medicinal herbs), and in a slightly larger vessel. This infusion has its roots in Pre-Columbian America, which established itself as traditional during the time of Governorate of Paraguay. Tereré is rooted in Paraguayan culture, and in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. On December 17, 2020, UNESCO declared the tereré as an intangible cultural heritage.
| Practices and traditional knowledge of Terere in the culture of Pohã Ñana | |
|---|---|
Traditional tereré of water and herbs | |
| Country | Paraguay and Brazil |
| Reference | 01603 |
| Region | South America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2020 (17 session) |
| List | Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe |
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 80 kcal (330 kJ) |
3 g | |
| Vitamins | Quantity %DV† |
| Vitamin C | 1% 1 mg |
| Minerals | Quantity %DV† |
| Calcium | 66% 660 mg |
| Copper | 138% 2.75 mg |
| Iron | 363% 47.2 mg |
| Magnesium | 104% 370 mg |
| Phosphorus | 5% 34.4 mg |
| Potassium | 37% 1096 mg |
| Zinc | 100% 9.5 mg |
| |
| †Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: ABC Color | |
It is similar to mate —a drink also based on yerba mate—but with the difference that tereré is consumed cold, preferably in the warmer areas of the Southern Cone. It is traditional from the Central Region of South America, including Paraguay and the brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, where it's considered a cultural icon. In recent decades it has become popular in some areas of Eastern Bolivia and in Argentina.
The Yerba mate is easily found in the brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul in various flavors, such as mint, passion fruit, lemon, and boldo. Both refreshing or medicinal herbs are often added, such as pererina, cocú, mint, sarsaparille, horsetail family, burrito, agrial or wax begonia, batatilla, verbena, spikesedges, ajenjo, slender dayflower, escobilla, lemon balm, saffron crocus, ginger, taropé, perdudilla blanca and others. Currently, in Paraguay there are various franchises that sell flavored ice based on medicinal-refreshing weeds/fruits for consumption in the tereré.
The tereré was declared the official drink of Paraguay and also the Cultural Heritage of the Nation. Every last Saturday of February the "National Tereré Day" is celebrated. By Resolution 219/2019, the National Secretariat of Culture declared the Traditional Practices and Knowledge of the Tereré in the culture of the Pohã Ñana as the National Intangible Cultural Heritage. On the other hand, the city of Itakyry is the permanent headquarters of the "Festival of Tereré" since 1998.