Yerba mate is a species of holly native to subtropical South America in Argentina, southern Paraguay, southern Uruguay and southern Brazil. The infusion called mate is prepared by steeping the dried leaves in hot water rather than boiling water like black tea or coffee. It is slightly less potent than coffee and much gentler on the stomach. Drinking mate with friends from a shared hollow gourd (also called a mate in Spanish) with a metal straw (a bombilla in Spanish) is an extremely common social practice in Argentina, Uruguay, southern Paraguay, the east side of Chile and southern Bolivia and Brazil. |
