Description MATÉ is also called YERBA MATÉ, PARAGUAY TEA, or BRAZILIAN TEA. It is a tea like beverage, popular in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and southern Brazil. It is brewed from the dried leaves and stemlets of the perennial tree Ilex paraguarensis. The name "mate" derives from the quichua word "matí" that names the gourd (Lagenaria vulgaris) that is used to drink the infusion. It is a stimulating drink, greenish in color, containing caffeine and tannin, and is less astringent than tea. The French naturalist and botanist Auguste de Saint Hilaire gave the scientific name Ilex paraguarensis in 1822, the tree belongs to the family Aquifoliaceae and grows between the parallels 10° and 30° (South) in the Paraná and Paraguay rivers basins.

Brewing In brewing maté, the dried leaves (yerba), placed in dried hollow gourds, are covered with boiling water and steeped. The gourds, called matés or culhas, are decorated, sometimes silver mounted; the vessel may even be made entirely of silver. The tea is sucked from the gourd with a bombilla; a tube about 6 inches (15 cm) long, often made of silver, with a strainer at one end to keep leaf particles from the mouth. Maté, usually served plain, is sometimes flavored with milk, sugar, or lemon juice. When tightly covered, it retains flavor during storage.

History and Traditional Use Centuries ago, the indigenous Guaraní of Paraguay and Argentina introduced maté and it is now recognized as the symbol of hospitality. The Indigenous Guayakí people have been drinking maté for hundreds of years to boost the immune system, to energize the body, and to aid digestion. Traditionally, South Americans use maté as the base for their herbal remedies. Maté acts as a catalyst to enhance the healing powers of other herbs. Even today, South Americans enjoy maté as a daily tonic for optimum health.
PREPARATION 1. Put mate herb in coffee filter and brew. 2. Add Mate to vessel for desired strength. Place bombilla ½ inch from the top and add hot or cold water. A little lemon or honey with Eucalyptus leaves makes a healthy banquet early in the morning.