We spent a little time in the evening Sterling the El Calafate city main street

We shopped a little, looking at the Mate! This is a typical South American special herb, made into a tea like drink in a cup carved of pumpkin or gourd, called a mate as well.

The cup is packed with the herb on a bit of an angle. In the low part is poured just a little bit water at 80°C. Not boiling! Their tea Kettles actually have a mate setting! Then a special straw with a strainer on the bottoms

The Mate is an herb you can buy by the kilo, and you carry it on a pouch

The hot water is kept in a thermos and carried in the large carrying case

It’s a very social thing. Everyone shares the Mate! 1 person is the “filler” who makes the Mate and passes it to 1 person at a time, who sips it all, then passes it back to be refilled for the next person. Even during COVID, mate was shared!