Yerba maté comes from the Ilex paraguariensis plant, traditionally grown in Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay. For centuries, it has been prepared using a gourd (mate) and metal straw (bombilla) and enjoyed socially much like Aussies share coffees or cold drinks on a warm day.
These compounds work together to deliver a natural buzz which is a more balanced boost compared to coffee.To learn more about the plant’s botany, you can visit the Royal Botanic Gardens’ guide to Ilex species.