Yerba Mate

Yerba mate or yerba-mate is a shrub from South America that can be brewed into a "mate tea". Mate yerba has a natural stimulant similar to caffeine, but without the jitteriness or addictive tendencies. The stimulant works differently on the central nervous system, so you get the energy but not the crash of caffeine. Mate yerba is also a good appetite suppressant and rich in minerals, vitamins, and anti-oxidants, making it a great diet tea.

Yerba mate is a species of holly native to subtropical South America in Argentina, southern Chile, eastern Paraguay, western Uruguay and southern Brazil. The yerba mate plant is a shrub or small tree growing up to 15 meters tall. It is an evergreen plan with small green-ish white flowers and red fruit.

An infusion called mate is prepared by steeping dry leaves (and twigs) of yerba maté in hot water, rather than in boiling water like black tea. Drinking mate with friends from a shared hollow gourd with a metal straw is a common social practice in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, southern Chile, eastern Bolivia and Southern Region, Brazil and has been cultivated in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

The flavor of brewed yerba mate is strongly vegetal, herbal, and grassy, reminiscent of some varieties of green tea. Many consider the flavor to be very agreeable, but it is generally bitter if steeped in boiling water, so it is made using hot but not boiling water. Unlike most teas, it does not become bitter and astringent when steeped for extended periods, and the leaves may be infused several times.

Additionally, one can purchase flavored mate in many varieties.
In Brazil, a toasted version of mate, known as cha mate or "mate tea", is sold in teabag and loose form, and served, sweetened, in specialized shops, either hot or iced with fruit juice or milk. An iced, sweetened version of toasted mate is sold as an uncarbonated soft drink, with or without fruit flavoring. The toasted variety of mate has less of a bitter flavor and more of a spicy fragrance.