Out to eat every night. Fine french pasta. Bottles of local wines. Long walks with newly minted friends. Frequent social gatherings at my language school. Sharing mates (or should I say, chimas!). Then in the blink of an eye, it was all over.
That was my first week in Porto Alegre, Brazil, back in early March. Only a few months ago, but feels like an eternity. A week of juicy reverie, fresh encounters and buzzing excitement,Β then everything came to a screeching halt when the global pandemic of 2020 made its mark on Brazil.
Sharing Chimas (Erva Mate) with Luise during the my first week in Porto Alegre, Brazil
Oh, boy, do I miss those first 7 glorious days.
Shit!
Oh well…
All isnβt lost.
Iβve been here for coming on 3 months with more than a hot month to go, and I donβt regret a thing, even though I had no way of seeing how this trip would unfurl. I literally slipped into the country a few days before borders were sealed. And coming from New York, Iβd call that double luck!
Letβs just say, Iβm not the same person I was three months ago. Isolation promotes deep reflection. Already an introspective introvert that basks in my alone time, this is Monk Level and Iβm cool with that. Itβs like my INFJ personality went Super Saiyon!
Itβs not easy to explain, but I look at the situation as a sort of training. The earth, itself, is a training facility and each situation like this is another course within the Greater Universal Training.
My intuition pencil has sharpened and Iβve tapped new barrels of creativity. I can feel so so so much more, both of myself and of others. Empaths will understand me well. Within the doubt and uncertainty, light and wisdom has shown through the darkness.
Working on a new collection
Sabado Cup – Traditional Brazilian Cuai Mate Gourd
Most of my days have been spent working on the Spring Summer 2020 Circle of Drink Collection with traditional Brazilian cuais (gourds), bombas (bombillas) as the central theme, supported by a range range of accessories such as mate-inspired pins and pendants.
Iβve also been working on new mateware instruments such as scoopers (working name: Mate Scoop); tampers to mold mate inside the gourd (working name: Mate Shaper);Β and a new line of Circle of Drink necklaces in 14k and 925 silver. Bling Bling!
Mate inspired pendants and pins
TINTIN Mate Scoop
Beautiful Sabado Cup in hand
Mate Shaper – tool used for shaping the erva inside the cuia or gourd
Books and Study
My little desk in my Porto Alegre apartment
Iβm addicted to learning, so being at home has always felt comfortable. Mate and books, yes, thatβs my sort of party! Woo hoo! Iβm re-reading Think and Grow Rich. This book has more to do with training your mind to stay in a positive flow than making money, but, heck, the latter isnβt bad either ;).
The Art of Learning by Waitzkin, showing me how to act without any action at all. And always studying all areas of design:Β fashion, color theory, fabrics, computer systems, architecture, product development etc.
The Art of Learning by Waitzkin
Exercise, my saving grace
Parque Farroupilha (Redenção) in my neighborhood Bom Fim
Daily long walks and jogs, a delicious reprieve and balm to the mind and body. Something about being outside, even if itβs just briefly each day, has been golden. Iβm sorry, but I couldnβt join the camp of those who literally donβt step outside at all. No sir! I need to breatheeeeβ¦. I need to move. I need to see buildings and the horizon and clouds and birds and trees and ants. It roots me to Nature βΒ and I am Nature. So, really, it Centers me. Iβll never take a good walk for granted again.
Zaffari, my neighborhood store. Every three days I’m here, like clockwork.
Went for a walk in my neighborhood one Sunday
Motorcycle rider caught my attempt at a candid shot
Meditation
18 minutes of seated meditation per day is my magic pill. No prescription needed. Just a timer, comfy seat, and space. Try it and see.
Park Life
Walking to my favorite park, Mohinos de Vento, is always a pleasure. I sit, meditate, snap photos of passersby and watch people. I am a People Watcher. Something so soothing to sit in peace and observing people interact. Am I the only one who loves this? I could sit for hours observing and studying people.
Snapping a few mirror shots
Girl with Good Vibes shirt
Girl chasing dog at Mohinos de Vento Park
My favoite park in the city, Mohinos de Vento
Mate at Home campaign
We developed a campaign to remind Materos across the world that weβre all together in this. I asked our community to submit an image of mate. Below, I compiled them into a short video collage (feel free to share on your social media!).
Things will never be the same
This pandemic has changed the game forever. How I look at sustainability within my life and business has dramatically changed. Having to send employees home and limit working hours; seeing others with no jobs at all, standing on lines for food; family friends passing away in hospitals; walking past shuttered businesses and people sleeping on the pavement.
How could anyone be the same after this? But as heartbreaking as it is, Iβm also thankful for the opportunity to make improvements β insights only collected when youβre in the thick of things.
As my grandma always reminded me βDave, everything happens for a reason.β Now more than ever, we need to cooperate instead of compete. Share instead of take. Kindness over ruthlessness. Cheer for each other instead of harboring jealousy. Equality over discrimination.
Mercado Publico aka Public Market
Mercado Publico in Historical District of Porto Alegre, Brazil
If youβre ever in Porto Alegre, this public market is a must go. Amongst the dealers and wheelers of cheeses, wines, cutlery βΒ most of which is finely crafted from locals, mind you βΒ youβll find three dedicated erva shops: Banco2, Casa do Erva-Mate, and Gaucho Rancho. All have a wide selection of erva sold by the kilo, prepacked ervas, bombas, cuias, knives, all sorts of erva-related handcrafted items of the highest quality.
Banco2 shop in the market
My buddy AdΓ£o’s shop in the market
We commissioned a few pieces from these talented vendors. In fact, this is where I honed my skills to prepare erva, as I was repeatedly shown step-by-step instructions on how to make the perfect erva. Check this video below to see it in action:
Iβm deep in The Erva Zone
Iβm still an Argentine mate boy at heart and will always be! But after being in Porto Alegre all this time, Iβve unlocked a new appreciation for erva mate, aka chimarrΓ£o. Thereβs really nothing else like it.
Once you learn how to properly make it, you then learn how to enjoy it. These two go hand-in-hand. And Iβm not afraid to admit, after so many years stumbling around trying to make erva back in New York, I still didnβt truly know the ins-and-outs of how to prepare erva.
And let me tell you, preparing erva make preparing yerba look like childsplay. Utterly different methods involved. Itβs tricky business!
But it all comes down to extra patience when allowing the water to sit and then carefully molding it back to shape the waterhole. And, dare I say, this can only only only be done with a proper Brazilian cuia and bomba (a bombilla with an incredibly high filter-count) βΒ and if youβre really in the know, youβll also have a Mate Shaper on hand for fine tuning the erva.
I had these tools back home, but never deployed them like I am these days. Iβm in the Erva Zone. And this new zone was the inspiration for the new collection. See all the goodies Iβm bringing back for youβ¦. See those beautiful cuias right there! We had them handcrafted just for Circle of Drink by local Artisans.
Packing up our handcrafted Sabado Cups for SS20 Collection – released in July
Phhhewwwwβ¦. theyβre out of this world! Iβm super excited about these pieces. Every day I wake up and grab one of these buttery-smooth cuias that hold a ton of erva, and I joyfully prepare a ginormous gourd of malty deliciousness.
Expect them to hit our shop in early July. Get one while you can. This may be one of those one-off collections never to be seen again a la Quantum Cups that only make a rare appearance every few years or so.
Curitiba (coo-ree-CHEEEE-bah)
Next week Iβm heading north to Curitiba in the State of ParanΓ‘. Did you know that thereβre only 3 states in the entire Brazil (out of 26), where traditional erva mate is regularly consumed? Yup, only the Southernmost three states:
- State of ParanΓ‘ (Curitiba is the capital)
- State of Rio Grande do Sul (where I currently reside in Porto Alegre)
- State of Santa Catarina
While there, Iβll learn the ways of the Gauchos of the region. Weβre also working on a new line of Circle of Drink Organic Mate produced in the State. This will become our first truly βexportableβ pack of mate.
Many of the larger mate companies produce specifically designed packs that travel well and can easily be shipped in large quantities across the globe. And though we currently sell our handcrafted yerba to more than 30 countries, this move will allow us to expand our reach with a truly amazing traditional erva packaged at the source and ready for global deployment.
It wonβt be our super-duper premium hand-blended mate that we craft in New York on the spot, but itβll be incredible all the same and at a price point thatβll make it more accessible to mate drinkers across the globe.
The ideas are really flowing out here! Could it be the erva?
That’s a wrap, Folks!
Ok, I think itβs time to make a fresh erva or order from Uber Eats for, like, the 10th consecutive day? I really need to get back to home cooking but Iβm addicted to this french fettuccine alfredo with sirloin.. Itβs insane. What in the world do they put in the sauce?
Anywhooo, if you made it this far, thanks for listening to what I had to share. You have my gratitude.Β It hasnβt been all rainbows and sunshine, but, nevertheless there has been light, levity, and rich ideas bubbling to the surface.
I hope you, too, have been able to sieve some golden nuggets from this less than pristine moment in time. Remember, itβs your time and your time only, so make the most of it.
Salud, Materos!
