If you are traveling through Argentina, you will most likely come across someone sipping through a metal straw out of a gourd-shaped cup. This is yerba mate – the tea that is said to be preferred over coffee by Argentinians 6:1. In fact, yerba mate is the national drink of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. It is made from steeping the dried leaves of the South American holly plant and is chock full of antioxidants, vitamins, and a healthy dose of caffeine.
