Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Daniel Scioli Unveils Tongue-in-Cheek ‘Pichichi’ Yerba at Tourism Council Assembly

The limited-run gift doubles as playful personal branding during a year of surging yerba mate exports.

Overview

  • Scioli showcased the personalized package during the 174th Federal Tourism Council meeting in Buenos Aires, handing one to council president Valentín Díaz Gilligan in a lighthearted moment.
  • The 500-gram pack features his futsal nickname “Pichichi,” the number 9 in his signature orange, and the back slogan “Se te fue la mano,” a self-referential nod to his 1989 motonautics accident.
  • His team says the item is not for sale, was produced in limited quantities in Misiones by friends, and serves as a souvenir, punctuated by his quip, “If Messi has his own yerba, why can’t I.”
  • Recipients identified so far include Díaz Gilligan, Entre Ríos governor Rogelio Frigerio, and UAE minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, who received a pack during a meeting in Dubai.
  • Outlets set the stunt against export momentum tracked by the INYM, with 42 million kilos shipped January–September, a record 7.2 million in September, projections above 50 million for 2025, and fresh deregulation that strips the INYM of price-setting powers under Decree 812/2025.