El té en el ámbito criollo : bienvenidas y adversarios

Abstract

Tea, first from China and then from India, was drank throughout the world from the 17th Century onwards, but hardly reached the Spanish Crown’s territories. It was not until the 19th century that its consumption reached these places due to the decadence in chocolate and mate production and trade. Besides economic factors, the reputation of tea had its own accomplishments, and they were tightly linked to European modernity. This caused a reduced mate consumption both in some areas of South America (Chile, Peru, Ecuador) and by the high and middle classes in Río de la Plata. This process began its contrary at the end of the 20th century.