Mate or maté [a] ( /ˈmæteɪ/ ), also known as chimarrão [b] or cimarrón [c] , is a traditional south american caffeine -rich infused herbal drink. It is made by soaking dried leaves of the yerba mate (ilex paraguariensis) in hot water and is traditionally served with a metal straw ( bombilla ) in a container typically made from a calabash gourd (also called the mate), but also in some areas made from a cattle horn (guampa).
A very similar preparation, mate cocido , removes some of the plant material and sometimes comes in tea bags. Today, mate is sold commercially as "yerba mate" in tea bags and as bottled iced tea.
Mate tea
mate tea, also known as yerba mate, is a traditional south american beverage made from the dried leaves of the ilex paraguariensis plant. It is commonly consumed in countries such as argentina, uruguay, and brazil and has a long history of use as a social and cultural drink. The beverage is prepared by steeping the dried leaves in hot water and it is traditionally served in a hollowed-out gourd, called a mate, and drunk through a metal straw called a bombilla.
Mate tea is rich in caffeine, theobromine and theophylline, it has been shown to have various health benefits including weight loss and reducing the risk of certain