Are you thinking of traveling to Argentina? At the moment we choose a destination, our first curiosities are what to visit, what to eat, where to sleep. Now comes another important point: what to drink!
Next, I tell you what are the typical drinks that you can not miss when visiting our country:
Mate
Mate is the traditional and favorite infusion of all Argentines. Its name comes from the Quechua word "Malt", which means pumpkin. Main feature? It is shared. Mate is the ideal pretext to generate cool conversations with those close to you. When is it drunk? At any moment of the day. Morning, afternoon, night... In Argentina there is no schedule to enjoy a good mate accompanied by invoices, cookies, biscuits or fried cakes.
This infusion is about Yerba Mate (plant that is born on the banks of the Paraná River) dried and ground that are served in a container called in the same way. Its flavor is bitter but you can add any type of sweetener to taste, be it sugar, sweetener or honey. In order to drink it correctly, you must have a metal bulb and a thermos where the hot water is placed.
An interesting fact is that unlike coffee and tea, mate is not commonly served in restaurants. Most Argentines have their own set "matero" and prepare it at home. Still, some places were innovative and added it to their charts. Some options are:
-Mate Co: Godoy Cruz 1776, Palermo.
-Cumaná: Rodriguez Peña 1149, Recoleta.
-Las Cabras: Fitz Roy 1795, Palermo.
“Amargo”, “Mateico” “Verdes”, “Matecito” are some of the nicknames that you will hear about the mate.
A summery option: Tereré
This infusion is more common in northern Argentina, especially due to its high temperatures. Unlike the mate, the tereré is prepared with very cold juice (it can be orange, lemon, grapefruit... Some are encouraged even with soda) and a glass glass with some ice cubes in the grass so that it is well frozen.
Coffee
Coffee is another of the most infusions consumed by argentines. Some trendy cafes, others passing through or traditional ones full of history and architecture: every corner of Buenos Aires offers places to stop for a coffee. Your classic companions? Croissants and toast.
And now, when ordering a coffee I recommend you take into account these words to enjoy the one you like:
-Cut: 80% coffee and 20% milk.
-Tear: Milk with few drops of coffee.
-Coffee with milk: 50% coffee, 50% milk.
-Espresso: Black coffee well loaded.
-Cappuccino: Coffee, milk and cream.
Fernet
With a dark color, intense smell and bitter taste, Fernet is an alcoholic drink that settled in Argentina with the arrival of Italian immigrants, who initially consumed it as a digestive. Over time, this drink started the great idea of mixing it with cola soda. Especially in the province of Córdoba, the Fernet is part of the cultural identity.
Today it is one of the most popular drinks and chosen by Argentines to share in roasts, meetings with friends, previews and bowling alleys. Although it is easy to do, I leave you with some important tips:
- Perfect mixture: 30% Fernet, 70% Cola flavored soda.
- If possible, the soda should be gas and be very cold.
-Add ice to taste.
"Fernet con Coca", "Ferno", "Fernando" are some words that you will hear if they offer it to you. Dare to try it!
Beer
Recognized as one of the drinks Richest, refreshing and consumed worldwide, for Argentines beer is the perfect companion to watch soccer games and share a bite among friends.
Argentina has industrial brands such as Quilmes and Patagonia that you can find in supermarkets and kiosks. In turn, in recent years the one that gained popularity was craft beer and this brought the boom of breweries. They offer different varieties: blonde, red and black. Within the classics, if you have a quiet taste, I recommend you try the Honey and Golden (both blondes). But if you like more bitter, you can go for the IPA (blonde) RED IPA (red) or Porter (black with coffee flavor).
Also, there are other more extravagant national flavors that you can't miss:
- American Barleywine (malt and liqueur mix, with traces of walnut, caramel and dulce de leche)
- Peñón del águila (Golden lager with a pinch of raspberry)
And how not to take into account its typical accompaniments: burgers, fries and Muzzarella sticks. If you are visiting the city of Buenos Aires and wanting to have a very fresh beer, I recommend you visit the neighborhoods of Palermo, Recoleta and San Telmo. And if they invite you a "Birra", "Pinta", don't hesitate! They are some ways to call beer.
Wine
Argentina stands out for being one of the main producing countries of excellent quality wine worldwide. Although they are distributed in the North, Patagonia, Córdoba and Buenos Aires, the largest number of vineyards are in the Cuyo region, mainly in the province of Mendoza. The Pinot Noir wine is produced there, a red that stands out for its concentration and the Malbec wine, characterized by its intense and fruity flavor. Continuing with the classic reds, you can also try the Bonarda, full-bodied and with a good fruity aroma.
And another ideal option is the Torrontes which is the most famous within white wines and you can find it only in Argentina. There are three varieties of Torrontes: the sanjuanino, the mendocino and the ones from Cafayate (Salta). It is a great accompaniment to the typical meals of northern Argentina, especially the empanadas and locro.
Finally, another classic is Moscatel wine, better known as “Moscato”. It is a sweet wine made with Moscatel grapes that, although it is not so popular anymore, is still traditionally offered in the iconic pizzerias of Buenos Aires. “¡Moscato, pizza y fainá! ”
In Argentina, the wine route is paramount and if you are a lover of them, you cannot miss a good tasting on your visit. The combination of nature, gastronomy and wines is a unique experience. I leave you some of our options:
Chicha
If you plan to travel in the north of Argentina, check it in the list of things to try. This drink is born from the fermentation of corn. Thanks to this fermentation, it has little alcohol and a sweet taste due to the amount of sugar it contains. It has great importance in the celebrations of the local communities of the north.
Rod with ruda
This drink is key to Corrientes and Misiones and to prove it you have to remember its tradition: It is taken every August 1 or 15 of the same month. Fasting. Only three drinks. Tradition says this brings good health and luck in the future.