The reason why AI will never replace Argentina’s software developers:we drink mate.
If you’ve worked with Argentine software engineers, you’ve probably noticed one thing we all have in common — we drink mate. No, not a coding language, not a trendy app, but that mystical drink that we sip from a gourd with a metal straw (or bombilla, as we call it). You might be wondering, “What’s in that thing? And how do they stay so sharp and energized?”
Mate is more than just a drink; it’s a ritual, a tradition, and an essential part of our culture. It fuels collaboration, fosters creativity, and helps us recharge in a way that machines will never understand. So, while Artificial intelligence can crunch code, it’ll never replace the real human experience of passing around a gourd, sharing ideas, and sipping on a totally addictive drink.
What exactly is Mate?
Mate is a traditional drink popular in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and parts of Brazil. It’s like our version of coffee, but better. Granted, a lot of people hate it at first — but it is an acquired taste, just like beer or whisky. Made from the leaves of the yerba mate plant, this non-alcoholic drink is loaded with mateína, a caffeine-like substance that delivers a smooth energy boost without the jittery crash you get from coffee. Studies even suggest that mate can increase energy levels by approximately 23%, making it the perfect sidekick for marathon coding sessions.
Here’s why mate gives superpowers to QAs, full-stack engineers, and developers:
It Keeps You Awake and Energized
When you’re grinding through a tough sprint, mate is like your personal battery charger. Thanks to mateína (a substance similar to caffeine), you get the same focus and alertness as you would from coffee, but with a smoother, more sustained energy boost. No crashing, no jitters. Perfect for that late-night debugging session!
Mate: The Social Element to Coding
Mate is a social thing. Just imagine: you’re in a room full of devs, passing around a gourd, sharing ideas, troubleshooting code, and talking about life. Mate brings people together. It’s like a conversation starter and a productivity enhancer all in one. And who doesn’t love a little break to chat when they’re stuck on a problem?
Guaraní Mythology: A Divine Drink
Legend has it that the Guaraní people, native to South America, believed mate was a gift from the gods. Some even say that by drinking mate, they could invoke spirits and gods to grant wisdom and strength. Whether you believe it or not, there’s something magical about the way this drink fuels creativity and collaboration.
Ice-breaker. Conversation Starter.
When you’re sipping mate in the office (or on Zoom), you’re bound to get a few curious looks. What’s that? Why are you drinking out of a gourd? It’s the perfect opportunity to introduce people to Argentine and Latin American culture. Suddenly, you’re not just the cool dev who solves complex problems—you’re also a culture ambassador.
Built-In Active Breaks for Better Mental Health
Since mate makes you drink a lot of water, it forces you to take frequent bathroom breaks. According to Slack, workers who regularly take breaks have 13% higher productivity throughout the day. They also scored 62% better on work-life balance, 43% better at handling work stress, and 43% more satisfied overall. So, those “bio breaks” aren’t just about going to the restroom — they’re a crucial part of maintaining focus and creativity. Mate encourages you to step away, recharge, and come back stronger.
Yerba Mate Reduces Anxiety
For devs dealing with the pressure of deadlines and bugs, mate is a great alternative to unhealthy stress-relievers. Instead of vaping or smoking cigarettes during sprint meetings (certainly unhealthy), mate’s natural properties help reduce anxiety. Plus, you also avoid chewing gum loudly while your team’s trying to focus!
At the end of the day, mate is irreplaceable, and so are the Argentine devs who drink it. We’re not just fueled by caffeine—we’re powered by tradition, creativity, and a love for coding that AI just can’t replicate.
The whole team at Ewents loves drinking mate. Thanks to mate, we can gather the necessary energy to provide nearshore software projects to startups and SMBs all over North America. Our team is eager to help you discover all the benefits of nearshoring:
✔️ Maximize your IT budget.
Cut development costs without sacrificing quality by leveraging nearshore development services. Our rates range from $15-$60/hr. Extremely competitive.
✔️ Work with Top-Tier Talent
Tap into Latin America’s top 1% tech experts to ensure your projects are executed by the best in the field. We recruit devs from all over Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay, and other countries in LATAM.
✔️ Avoid Working Late Nights With Overdoses of Coffee (or Mate 🧉)
No more late-night meetings or delayed responses. Our team works in CST and EST time zones. We’re awake when you are.
✔️ Scale Up Your Dev Team With Flexibility
Easily adjust the size of your development team to fit your project’s needs — scaling up or down as required with no penalty fees.
Founded in 2019, Ewents is a boutique nearshore software development firm from Latin America. We provide tailor-made software development services in your same timezone and for a fraction of the cost.
Let Ewents be your positive outlier — delivering code, knowledge, and a great attitude beyond expectations.
Learn more about our team at https://ewents.io
