Which Countries Drink the Most Yerba Mate? A Global Breakdown

Yerba mate is best known as the national drink of Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay — but its reach extends far beyond South America, into places that might surprise you. Here’s a look at where yerba mate is consumed most, and the fascinating cultural stories behind each region.

Per Capita Consumption: The Southern Cone Leads

When it comes to how much mate people actually drink per person each year, Uruguay tops the list by a wide margin, followed closely by Argentina. Brazil and Paraguay also rank highly, though consumption in Brazil is concentrated mostly in the southern regions of the country, where the tradition runs deepest. In Uruguay especially, it’s common to see people carrying a thermos under one arm and a mate gourd in hand while walking down the street — the ritual isn’t confined to the home.

The Surprise on the List: Syria

Here’s the fact that catches almost everyone off guard: Syria is one of the largest importers of yerba mate in the world, regularly ranking as the second-largest after South America’s own consumers — ahead of most European countries that people would assume drink more. The story behind this dates back to the 1860s, when waves of Syrian and Lebanese immigrants settled in Argentina and Brazil. Many picked up the mate habit from their new communities, and when large numbers returned home between the 1970s and the mid-20th century — often driven by economic shifts in South America and an oil-driven boom back home — they brought the tradition with them.

Yerba mate is so deeply woven into Syrian daily life today that Syria’s central bank has classified it as an essential import, placing it in the same category as staples like rice and sugar. It’s especially popular among Alawite and Druze communities, and in some regions it outpaces both coffee and tea as the preferred drink.

A Different Ritual: How Syria Drinks Mate

The way mate is prepared and shared in Syria looks quite different from the South American gourd-and-bombilla tradition. Rather than sharing one gourd passed around a group, many Syrians drink individually from small glass cups, using a metal straw called a “massasa” instead of a bombilla. In parts of the country, groups will still share the same kettle of hot water, along with nuts and sweets, turning the occasion into a social ritual of its own — in the Druze village of As-Suwayda, gatherings traditionally close with the word “karasi,” meaning “chairs,” inviting everyone to sit back down and continue the conversation.

Lebanon and the Wider Middle East

Lebanon shares a similar immigration story to Syria’s, with mate arriving through the same 19th and 20th-century waves of migration to and from South America. While its import volumes are smaller than Syria’s, the drink holds a similar cultural weight, particularly among Druze communities. Mate has also found smaller but growing followings in nearby countries like Israel and Turkey, carried by the same patterns of migration and cultural exchange.

Beyond the Traditional Regions

Yerba mate’s reach doesn’t stop in the Southern Cone or the Middle East. Poland has developed a notably strong mate-drinking culture of its own, with imports climbing sharply over the past decade. In the United States, demand has grown steadily too — a trend that became especially visible during the 2026 World Cup, when fans shared mate outside stadiums and team hotels, introducing curious newcomers to the tradition. Even China, with its own long history of tea culture, has become an export target for Argentine producers in recent years.

One Drink, Many Traditions

What ties all of these regions together isn’t just the plant itself, but the ritual of sharing it — whether that’s passing a single calabash gourd around a table in Buenos Aires, or gathering around a shared kettle in a Syrian mountain village. Curious to try it yourself? Learn how to make yerba mate the traditional way, and explore the different types of mate gourds used around the world.

Sources: Instituto Nacional de la Yerba Mate (INYM), Statista, academic research on yerba mate consumption in Syria.