Mate or maté is a traditional South American caffeine-rich infused herbal drink). It is made by soaking dried leaves of the yerba mate plant in hot water and is traditionally served with a metal straw (bombilla) in a container typically made from a calabash gourd (also called the mate), but also in some areas made from a cattle horn (guampa)). Mate has a strong cultural significance for both national identity and society. It is the national drink of Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay, and drinking mate is a common social practice in all of the territory of Paraguay and parts of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, southern Chile, and eastern Bolivia).

Mate has numerous health benefits for both body and mind. It contains caffeine, which can make you feel more alert and focused, and it has more antioxidants than any other tea-based drink. Some studies suggest that the tea may have helpful effects on cholesterol, weight loss, the heart, swelling called inflammation, and cancer risk. However, more research is needed to confirm these links. Drinking yerba mate isnt linked to health problems in most adults, but some studies suggest that people who drink large amounts of yerba mate for a long time may have a higher risk of some types of cancer.

The rituals associated with drinking mate are rich and complicated. Preparing and consuming the drink correctly is essential. Specific equipment is required, including a mate gourd, a bombilla, and a thermos for transporting the hot water. The container used to drink mate is traditionally made from a squash called a calabash, which is hollowed out and left out to dry in the sun, but it can also be made of metal, wood, or horn. Mate is an acquired taste, and even in countries with a huge mate culture, some people prefer to add sugar or honey to make it more palatable. Variations on the mate drink are now sold internationally, including mate blended with citrus fruit extracts, iced mate, and mate smoothies.