Maté

Maté ( ; Spanish: , Portuguese: ) is a traditional South American caffeine-rich infused herbal drink. It is also known as }} in Portuguese, }} in Spanish, and ''kaʼay'' in Guarani. It is made by soaking dried yerba-maté (''Ilex paraguariensis'') leaves in hot water and is traditionally served with a metal straw () in a container typically made from a calabash gourd (also called the ), but also made from a cattle horn () in some areas. A very similar preparation, known as , removes some of the plant material and sometimes comes in tea bags. Today, maté is sold commercially in tea bags and as bottled iced tea.

Maté has been originally consumed by the Guaraní and Tupi peoples native to Brazil and neighboring countries. After European colonization, it was spread across the Southern Cone countries, namely Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile, but it is also consumed in the Bolivian Chaco. Maté is the national beverage of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. In Chile, maté is predominantly consumed in the central and southern regions. Maté is also popular in Lebanon and Syria, where it was brought by immigrants from Paraguay and Argentina. Provided by Wikipedia