I recently stumbled upon a picture of a Polish guy drinking some Mate. I posted a comment, and this began my informal interview with a Polish Mate drinker by the name of Sebastian.
Sebastian:
Hi Matt. Thanks for comment about my photo. Sorry for slow response but i don't use G+ very often becouse my friends (idiots) prefer Facebook and other crap. I'm very glad that people drink Yerba Mate over the world. Which is your favourite Yerba?
Matéo:
No problem, my friend! My favorite types are Amanda and Cruz de Malta. I also enjoy a few American brands here and there when I want something a little gentler. Always looking to try more! What about yourself?
Sebastian:
I prefer mild Argentinian Mate. My number one is Kraus Organica because it's grow in ecology farms, also it dry with no smoke (only hot air - sin humo). It give very good taste. I like Amanda too. Company was created by Polish immigrant Jan Szychowski. That is our little pride. I use Amanda start set, my last calabaza just broke.
Matéo:
My brother loves Kraus. I've had it once and it's definitely tasty. I actually didn't know that about the origins of Amanda. Would you be able to tell me a little about Mate in Poland? I've seen a few videos on YouTube of Polish people drinking Mate, but I could never draw a connection (not that there needs to be one at all!)
Learn the basics of the traditional yerba mate circle >>
Sebastian:
Mate in Poland? It's good story. The man who show Mate for Polish has name Wojciech Cejrowski. He is polish journalist and traveler. He has his own shows on TV, write books and more and more. He is very specific person. Before 1989 in Communism he was student, then police officers broke all his finger before exam because he talked bad things to department. He sold his fridge and start travel. When he came back to Poland he drink mate.
Everyone asked him: What is it? He wasn't first mate drinker but first popular. Now we had a lot of shops on internet and reality. In my grey small town ( Łomża ) I have two tea shops and there is mate here. In bigger town are places where you can drink mate - mate bar's. When you drink mate on street people don't know what is it and sometimes think that is drug but nobody tell you that. When I drink mate in school people and professors ask me but they only curious. Yerba mate is cheap. People who promote vegetarianism and healthly live drink mate in TV shows.
Matéo:
Wow! This was awesome to learn Sebastian. Thank you so much for all of this information. Do you mind if I put this up on my Mate website. We would be honored to have your words on there. Also, would you be able to tell me which kinds of Mate most people in Poland drink and if there are any big differences in how you prepare it compared to people in South America? This is all really great information!
Sebastian:
No problem. The most popular kinds of Yerba are: Pajarito, Amanda, Kraus, Colon, Taragüí, Cruz de malta, Don Bosco. I think there isn't any big differences between prepare.
Matéo:
Awesome! Well, keep checking back on our site to see our interview on there. Drink on!
