Mate Leaves Ground, from

The yerba mate tree is an evergreen from the Holly family that grows in the subtropical forests of South America. The infusion, is prepared by steeping dry leaves in hot rather than in boiling water. Drinking mate with friends from a shared hollow gourd with a cane or metal straw (a bombilla in Spanish) is a common social practice in Uruguay, Argentina and southern Brazil among people of all ages. The gourd is passed clockwise, often in a circle and each person finishes the gourd before giving it back to the brewer. Since mate can be rebrewed many times, the gourd is passed until the water runs out.