Have you ever wondered what was in the flask Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi is always carrying around? The Barcelona star is heading to Liverpool, flask in hand. Check it out.
It's a South American sensation that is enjoyed by a host of the world's top footballers. A delicacy that is even enjoyed in the PSL!
Lionel Messi took to Instagram to share a pic of himself and close friend Luis Suarez aboard a plane to Liverpool, where they will take on the Reds in the second leg semi-final of the UEFA Champions league.
In the pic, Messi can be seen holding a cup in his hands while there is a huge flask placed in front of Suarez.
What is in the flask you ask?
It is called Mate (pronounced mah-teh)
Mate is a traditional South American caffeine-rich hot drink made with dried and chopped yerba mate leaves. It has a bitter, soil-tasting flavour and is particularly popular in countries such as Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.
The drink is usually shared in a social setting among friends, with individuals drinking from the same receptacle.
Messi loves it but he is not the only player that consumes this tea. Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Luis Suarez, Neymar and Pogba join the endless list.
In the PSL, South American duo, Gaston Sirino and Jose Ali Meza are said to be fans of the drink.
As a caffeine-rich drink, it is a stimulant, similar to tea or coffee, and is believed to increase focus and improve mood, while also helping to promote better sleep.
It is served in a gourd, which Messi can always be seen with, traditionally made out of calabash, and drunk through a metal or bamboo straw, known as a bombilla, which serves as a filter.
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