Brewing Your Playadito Yerba Mate Tea

The tradition of drinking yerba mate is such an important part of the South American culture. This is specifically true in Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, although in addition it is also enjoyed in other South American countries. Yerba mate is a type of loose leaf tea. Typically, it is drunk from a natural gourd (a hollowed out fruit) used as a cup. It is then sipped through a metal straw known as a bombilla that has a filtered end to separate the infusion from the yerba leaves. This bombilla is made from Alpaca which is an attractive metal with a floral design. Mate is usually enjoyed by groups of friends and family as they get together to chat, and enjoy mate together.