The art of Tea in Brazil
As you all know I am a great fan of tea and in fact cannot live with out. It didn't cross my mind that this commodity might be hard to come by here in Brazil. In many ways it actually isn't hard to find tea. What is hard is trying to find black tea! Most teas that I find are a varient of herbal/fruit teas. Also the price is pretty outrageous. I've been trying to limit my tea intake but have only been able to do so by increasing the amount of coffee I drink which is in no way better for me but is much cheaper. If it was summer time it wouldn't be a problem as I like fruit teas in summer and drink heaps more water. But at the moment when it is so cold in the office I need to drink something warm.
At first I was confused as to why there are so many fruit teas available when Black tea is hard to find and expensive. My theory about it is linked to a very strong tradition from the south of drinking Schmao with friends. Schmao - for the uninitiated - is a green herb much like green tea but more bitter. It is packed into a small vessel like a gourd with a straw like spoon/sieve added to it. Then a small amount of hot water is poored into it and is ready to drink through the straw. It is usually shared amongst friends during the afternoon or at other social events. It is very similar to Mate which is found in other southern parts of South America.
It is mostly drunk by people from the South 'guachos' and as there are many people from my team from the South we share the drink at least a few times a week, usually during team meetings. I've coming to really like it, although the taste is a little gritty.
Having a drink of Schmao is also a great way to pass the afternoon at the park and to meet people. Gabi and I went to Ibirapuera again this afternoon and started drinking Schmao. Three different groups of people came up to us to talk because of the Schmao and one couple even stayed and chatted with us/ shared a drink for an hour or two. Of course every one we met was from the south or from Uruguay!
So we have found a way to meet Southerners. Our next mission is to find out how to meet people from the North and also Sao Paulo.
Love Lucy
At first I was confused as to why there are so many fruit teas available when Black tea is hard to find and expensive. My theory about it is linked to a very strong tradition from the south of drinking Schmao with friends. Schmao - for the uninitiated - is a green herb much like green tea but more bitter. It is packed into a small vessel like a gourd with a straw like spoon/sieve added to it. Then a small amount of hot water is poored into it and is ready to drink through the straw. It is usually shared amongst friends during the afternoon or at other social events. It is very similar to Mate which is found in other southern parts of South America.
It is mostly drunk by people from the South 'guachos' and as there are many people from my team from the South we share the drink at least a few times a week, usually during team meetings. I've coming to really like it, although the taste is a little gritty.
Having a drink of Schmao is also a great way to pass the afternoon at the park and to meet people. Gabi and I went to Ibirapuera again this afternoon and started drinking Schmao. Three different groups of people came up to us to talk because of the Schmao and one couple even stayed and chatted with us/ shared a drink for an hour or two. Of course every one we met was from the south or from Uruguay!
So we have found a way to meet Southerners. Our next mission is to find out how to meet people from the North and also Sao Paulo.
Love Lucy
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