The Art of Tereré

Whenever my mum, my brother and me are together we sit with some "tereré rupa" (paraguayan version of tapas or snacks meant for before and during the rounds of terere) and our tereré passing hands back and forth...

Tereré is the paraguayan national beverage. It's a cold infusion of yerba mate that is served in a "guampa" which is like a jug or cup  usually made of a cow's horn or wood where cold iced water mixed with all sorts of medicinal plants is pour over the yerba mate and is drank through a "bombilla" which functions as a straw with a filter. The person in charge of serving the tereré will pour water into the guampa and pass it around in a circle to any visiting participants. Nobody worries about sanitation here; everyone drinks from the same "bombilla" or straw.

Doesn't matter your age or social layer... tereré is for everyone

Even children drink tereré.
Photo from Abrilespy

The art of drinking tereré is something every single paraguayo masters, and I might say that before Facebook, Twitter or blogs existed, the "tereré" time was the place to go to chat, meet friends, and learn all the freshes gossips in town, who was dating who and what were the latest news in the surroundings. Tereré time is the "Hangout" of the paraguayans and it is common to be offered a tereré while visiting a house. You could also use tereré time as a psychiatric consultation where to try and solve your most inner troubles or just chill out and talk about football (futbol).

Photo from Abrilespy

It is a social art.

If you ever visit Paraguay you will see the ubicuos "tereré" everywhere. If you want to try it out you just need to ask anyone and you would be welcome to join the "tereré" circle. It links friends, family neighbors, colleagues and strangers. When you have Tereré, life is good. When you have tereré everything is "tranquilo".

.. the most important thing is that refreshing hand that is extended
from man to woman, from father to son, from grandfather to grandson and back again.
Without regards to classes, genres or age, because the tereré is a bond between people.
Photo and text translated from Abrilespy

The "tereré" is refreshing, it is welcoming, it is cool, it is amicable, it is relaxed like most paraguayans. If you have a word to describe paraguayans it would most likely be "tranquilo". " Tranquilo" is not simple to translate... it would be something like relax, no worries, no hurry, be at ease. Tranquilo is not just a word; it’s a state of being, it is Hakuna Matata.

One sure sign to spot a paraguayan anywhere in the world is the sign of the "termo" and the "guampa" that goes to every place a paraguayan goes. If not, ask any paraguayan you meet. It doesn't matter if it is in the United States, in England, in Australia, in Brazil, Colombia, China or the Caribbean.... the tereré will be there with them.

Want a tereré mi cuate?

http://www.ozy.com/good-sht/terer-paraguays-social-tea/1453.article