mate

or maté ( , Spanish: , Portuguese: ) is a traditional South American caffeine-rich infused herbal drink. It is also known as or , and ka’ay in Guarani. It is made by soaking dried yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) leaves in hot water and is traditionally served with a metal straw in a container typically made from a calabash gourd (also called the ), but also made from a cattle horn in some areas. A very similar preparation, known as , removes some of the plant material and sometimes comes in tea bags. Today, mate is sold commercially in tea bags and as bottled iced tea.