TERERE

You have probably read the word “tereré” many times in my blog and wondered what I am talking about. Well, here’s the low down on a very cultural thing….

Tereré is a cold bitter tea made from the leaves of a yerba mata tree that is passed around in small groups. The server (traditionally the youngest) pours water from his termo (pitcher or thermos) into a guampa (receptacle to hold water - sometimes a hollowed cow’s horn) packed with ground up yerba leaves. He passes it to the person on his right. That person drinks from a communal bombilla (metal straw with a filter on the end) and immediately passes it back. The server refills the guampa and passes it to the next person. Paraguayans carry their equipo (terere gear) wherever they go.

When temperatures stay in the upper 90’s for weeks at a time, tereré is a must. Very few Paraguayans drink plain water, so tereré is a necessity for hydration in this humid heat. Everyone takes a break at 10:00 and 3:00 to socialize over the refreshing drink. Paraguayans add various herbs and poha (medicines) picked from their yard to the water. The herbs are for different ailments: high blood pressure, low blood pressure, gall bladder problems, prostate problems, etc...
We have made many friends while sipping tereré, have had spiritual conversations while passing the guampa, and have yellowed our teeth on the bitter weeds….all for the sake of bringing Paraguayans to Christ. But really we don’t mind – we’re addicted to it now.