Tereré ruso
Tereré with fruit juice instead of herbs: loved by some, regarded as heresy by purists.
What it is
Tereré ruso (or “tereré de jugo”) replaces the cold water with herbs of traditional tereré with citrus or other fruit juice, or with citrus soda or iced tea. The base is still yerba mate in the guampa, and whole-stem yerba is recommended over the ground kind, which can sit heavily. It is popular in southern Paraguay, in Itapúa, and also in northeastern Argentina and parts of Brazil. It has a controversial reputation: for purists, tereré is not just a drink but identity, and sugary juices pull it away from its roots. The origin of the name is unclear. Wikipedia attributes the variant to Slavic immigrants (Russians and Belarusians) who arrived in Itapúa, but ABC notes that it is not clear why it is called “ruso” and that it probably has nothing to do with Russia.
Ingredients
History
Wikipedia links it to Slavic immigrants in Itapúa, who would have used orange or other fruit juice as a substitute for water and herbs.
Did you know…?
In 2020 UNESCO inscribed the practices and knowledge of tereré, tied to pohã ñana, as intangible heritage of humanity; tereré ruso departs from that herbal recipe.
When
Hot afternoons; especially in summer.
Where
Southern Paraguay (Itapúa), according to Wikipedia, and other parts of the country.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.