🧉
Mate
MAH-tay
Definitions
1
Food · Traditional Drink
Uncommon
A traditional South American caffeine-rich infused drink, particularly popular in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and parts of Brazil, served in a hollowed gourd with a metal straw (bombilla).
Used to reference the drink itself, South American culture, or social drinking rituals.
Starting my morning with a strong 🧉 to get through Monday!
Instagram caption
Missing Argentina and my daily 🧉 ritual with friends.
WhatsApp message
Represents a significant cultural tradition and social bonding ritual in South America, where the gourd and straw are often shared among friends.
2
Culture · Identity
Uncommon
A symbol of South American identity, particularly Argentinian, Uruguayan, and Paraguayan cultural heritage and social customs.
Often used by South Americans to express cultural pride or by travelers to indicate appreciation of South American culture.
Proud of my roots 🧉🇦🇷 #ArgentinianHeritage
Twitter post
Functions as a cultural identifier similar to how tea 🍵 represents British culture or coffee ☕ represents café culture.
Evolution Timeline
2019
Introduction of the mate emoji in Unicode 12.0, after advocacy from South American users.
Growing global awareness of mate and South American cultural representation.
2020
Increased usage as health-conscious consumers sought alternative caffeine sources during pandemic.
Wellness trends and home beverage exploration during lockdowns.
Cultural Context
Mate drinking is a deeply social activity in South America, where a single gourd and bombilla are traditionally passed around a circle of friends or family.
While strongly associated with Argentina, Uruguay actually has the highest per-capita consumption of mate in the world.
The tradition originates with indigenous Guaraní people, who introduced the yerba mate plant to European colonizers in the 16th century.
The emoji's inclusion represented an important step in digital recognition of South American cultural practices beyond stereotypical symbols.
Regional Variations
Argentina
Ubiquitous symbol of national identity and daily social ritual. Used frequently in digital communication to represent everyday life.
United States
Primarily used by South American immigrants, travelers who have visited South America, or health-conscious consumers exploring alternative caffeine sources.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Limited usage outside South American communities, where it's used similarly to younger generations but with less frequency.
Gen_Z: Used to signal cultural heritage if South American, or to reference trendy health drinks and alternative caffeine sources.
Older: Rarely used except by South American immigrants maintaining digital connections with their homeland.
Millennials: Employed by South American diaspora to express cultural identity, or by travelers to signal worldliness and cultural appreciation.
Common Combinations
🧉🇦🇷
Argentine mate culture or identity
Used by Argentines to express national pride and cultural heritage
🧉☀️
Enjoying mate outdoors on a sunny day
References the common practice of drinking mate in parks or plazas
🧉🧠
Mate for mental focus or studying
References mate's caffeine content and use as a study aid