The kitchen serves fried fish dishes and fierce cocktails such as the machacao, made from white rum, lime juice and potent yerba mate tea.

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One of the city's poorest and most violent regions, the former archbishop often entered on foot to celebrate mass in small chapels and drink mate tea with locals.

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With enduring links to Argentina, Brazil (where 5% of the people claim Middle Eastern roots), Chile and Venezuela, Syria can boast that it is the world's biggest importer of mate tea.

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The tour starts in Plaza Congreso where Jed gives tour participants an overview of local history, shares insights into the surrounding architecture and teaches the group how to formally prepare, serve and drink mate, traditional Argentinean tea.

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She presented him with a mate gourd and straw for drinking traditional Argentine tea.

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But, if hunger kicks in while drinking mate, baked goods make a far better pairing with the strong flavour of the tea.

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