Don’t go anywhere without your mate? Does nothing sound better than a yerba tasting? Heaven on Earth is in Buenos Aires for you and all mate lovers—the Feria Matear is coming to La Rural on October 17 and 18.
We’ll tell you which activities you can’t miss at the fair. Grab your thermos—hot water is on the house.
Join a guided tasting (and discover that you’ve been doing it all wrong)
Yerba mate has its own sommelier culture, and taking part in a tasting is a one-way trip. During the fair, experts and producers organize tastings where they’ll teach you to distinguish the profile of a “barbacuá” yerba (with smoky notes) from a “monte” or “campo” variety.
You’ll learn to distinguish and detect aromas and, most importantly, the ultimate secret to making the perfect “montañita” so it doesn’t get watery by the third steep.
Try the mate-based cocktails and cuisine
Mate isn’t just drunk with a bombilla. One of the most Instagrammable areas of the fair is where bartenders (yes, mate bartenders—you read that right) and chefs get creative. You can take part in live demonstrations and sample signature drinks featuring yerba mate syrups, botanical gin and tonics with hints of yerba, or regional alfajores made with mate.
El Patio Matero: the biggest “living room” for mate lovers
It’s not all about walking around. The heart of Matear is its “patio matero.” It’s a massive relaxation area equipped with free hot water stations set to the exact temperature (forget about burning your yerba).
Express masterclasses: from botanical blends to mate cup design
At this fair dedicated to mate, you’ll find talks on how to create your own blends at home by adding peperina, citrus peels, or dried flowers. There are also areas where you can watch the chiseling process or the carving of artisanal wooden mates, and talk directly with the cooperatives and families who grow yerba mate in Misiones and Corrientes—and ask them to let you try some.
📍 Where: La Rural, Buenos Aires Exhibition Center (Av. Sarmiento 2704)
📅October 17 and 18
