Yerba Mate: Earth as a Companion (thesis)

Abstract

Yerba mate is an infusion that can be drunk hot or cold, native to Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. While often called a tea, mate does not come from the tea plant Camellia sinesis -- therefore, if we're getting technical, it's not actually a tea. But as a beverage infused by the leaves of a particular plant, we can call mate a cousin to tea. Why make the distinction? Because mate doesn't have the same ecology, history, worldwide recognition, or cultural placement as tea. In fact, aside from their shared trait of steeped leaves, the beverages are hardly similar at all. As the mate makes its rounds, let's dive into all that "yerba mate" means. First, we must situate ourselves within the field of study through which we hope to come to an understanding of mate. The environmental humanities encompasses precisely what's in its name: humanities disciplines investigated through an environmental lens (UCLA, n.d.). This field of study gives weight and credence to stories and experiences, without claiming to speak for entire peoples or lands. A specific emphasis is placed on indigenous knowledge, particularly as it pertains to human-planet relationships. Understanding how the environmental humanities is defined, we now turn to what it aims to do. [From Introduction]