Yerba mate

Ilex paraguariensis 

Family: Aquafoliaceae | Place of Origin: Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil

Origins and history:   
Originally used by native people of Paraguay and the region as a stimulant, became economically important and traded around the world as colonizers came and went.

Identification characteristics  

• Dioecious shrub that matures into a tree 
• Can grow to 16 meters tall, with some reporting up to 35 meters tall   
• Simple evergreen leaves – 7 to 110 mm long. Leaves are oblong shape with wide serrated margins, arranged alternately.  
• Flowers are small, greenish-white, with 4 petals 
• Fruit is a red drupe that is 4 to 6 mm in diameter 

Uses and preparation

Dried leaves and twigs are placed into a dry, hollow gourd and topped off with boiling water, then drank with a filtered straw.