The ubiquitous drink is a favorite of footballers including Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Antoine Griezmann, in addition to hipsters in trendy cafes. But what is the proper way to drink ...

MostAmericans are not likely to go mad for mate (MAH-tay) at first sip. This slightly bitter herbal tea, which conjures images of the rough-and-ready gaucho, is the national drink of Argentina ...

Two students converse while drinking yerba mate. Oakley Afualo, left, wore a Gaucho outfit, a traditional attire for Argentinian cowboys. (Makeilah Law) ...

Even in the army, people drink mate,” Mr. Sulaiman said, adding that it regularly appears in soap operas on Syrian television. “It has become a part of the Syrian identity,” he said.

But far from being a cultured drink of the petty bourgeoisie, mate has its roots in the working-class gaucho culture of old, and persists as the social drink of the common people throughout the ...