Yerba Mate: Empire, Nation and Contested Identities

Julia Sarreal's book is a commodity history of a beverage/stimulant and a study of Argentine identity. By examining consumption and production, it engages two methodologies that are difficult to combine: cultural studies and political economy.

The wide temporal scope (from the pre-Columbian period through the 20th century) reveals continuities and ruptures. The innovative combination of sources (dictionaries, government documents, newspaper articles, statistics, advertising, cartoons, travelers’ accounts, literature and film) yields a nuanced and complex understanding.