Mate dulce (mate de coco)
Hot milk with burnt sugar and grated or crushed coconut in the flask: the drink of cool days.
What it is
Mate dulce, also called coconut mate, is a traditional Paraguayan drink made with milk, burnt sugar and grated or crushed coconut. It has nothing to do with the “mate dulce” of northeastern Argentina, which is yerba with sugar. The sugar is caramelised with the hot milk and served over the coconut (ground mbocayá or grated coconut) in the flask. It can be flavoured with cinnamon, vanilla, anise or honey. It is drunk on cold days, often in a circle like tereré, and is served with biscuits, croissants or chipa cuerito. ABC says street vendors offer the coconut on the streets when temperatures drop.
Ingredients
History
It used to be sweetened with burnt sugar; today many use plain sugar or sweetener.
Did you know…?
There are “fit” versions with skimmed milk and sweetener.
When
Cold and rainy days, autumn and winter.
Where
Homes, groups of friends and drink stalls across the country.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.