Maté << MAH tay >>, also called Paraguay tea, is a drink made from the dried leaves and shoots of a plant that grows in South America. People make the tea by pouring boiling water over the leaves and stems. Maté has a large amount of caffeine and produces a stimulating effect. The maté plant has dark green leaves 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 centimeters) long, small greenish-white flowers, and small, dark red fruits. Maté growing is a large industry in Paraguay, Argentina, and southern Brazil, where drinking maté is an important part of the culture. Exporters also ship maté to other countries in South America. Maté is sometimes called yerba maté.
