Yerba mate

Mate is a herbal infusion made from the yerba mate plant's dried and powdered leaves. The drink is thought to have originated among the Guarani people, who were the first to harvest the plant and brew mate. The leaves are steeped and served in a hollowed gourd with a bombilla, which is a specialized metal straw that also serves as a sieve.

Prior to European colonization, indigenous cultures in South America were the first to use and cultivate yerba mate. It's a caffeine- and herbal-infused drink that's filling everything from to-go cups to shallowed-out squash gourds around the country. Yerba mate leaves are dried, cut, and processed into a powder, or steeped in hot water as whole leaves. Drinking yerba mate is a social activity, and the gourd, which is equipped with a metal straw that also serves as a sieve, is frequently passed around a group, with each individual taking a drink before passing.

The drink has always been prepared and enjoyed at various gatherings in South America, and both the gourd and the bombilla are typically shared among the entire group. The infusion contains a lot of caffeine and has a slightly bitter herbal flavor. Mate is a dried and crushed yerba mate leaf infusion.

The drink is thought to have originated with the Guarani people, who were the first to harvest the plant and create mate with it. Traditionally, the leaves are steeped and served in a hollowed gourd with a bombilla—a unique metal straw that also serves as a sieve.The drink has always been prepared and enjoyed at various celebrations in South America, with both the gourd and the bombilla being divided among the entire party. The infusion has a slightly bitter herbal flavor and is high in caffeine.