Yerba mate, a popular South American drink, is getting some much needed attention in NYC right now.
Over the weekend, Porteñas opened in Williamsburg with their primary focus being the spiced yerba mate. In South American Yerba mate is often referred to as “the tea of the gods” because of its various health benefits as well as its long history of consumption in the region. As Porteñas (and other reports) claim, “Yerba mate is the intelligent alternative to coffee. It stimulates the brain, increasing lucidity and slowly releasing sustainable energy throughout the day, and without the “crashing” effect you feel with coffee. It even has medical benefits, as the Guaraní knew long before the arrival of Europeans.”
Other health benefits of drinking yerba mate include: stimulating the immune system, combatting inflammation and obesity, it contains essential minerals, antoxidants, flavonoid, and fatty acids in addition to being packed with a handful of various vitamins.
The bar will serve their rich creation in an authentic gourd with a straw that filters out the leaves, so you don’t end up with a mouthful of leaves just a taste of the earthy flavors. Porteñas will also be whipping up tasty Mateccinos and mate-infused juices, with Argentina-American bites to go along with your cup of mate like pastrami and pickle-stuffed empanadas, and baked goods that feature the mate as an ingredient.
The shop will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week, 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays; and who knows, maybe it’ll even help you curb that coffee addiction!
What: Porteñas
Where: 557 Lorimer Street
When: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily