The traditional social beverage in many parts of Latin America, Yerba Mate (pronounced "yerba mahtay") is an invigorating and refreshing beverage. According to a January 1999 report in Alternative Medicine, "Yerba Mate's stimulating effect comes primarily from a compound called mateine, a close relative of caffeine, plus two other alkaloid compounds, theophylline and theobromine, which are found in most teas." Caffeine content (in the form of mateine) varies between 0.3% and 1.7% of dry weight (compare this to 2.5–4.5% for tea leaves, and 1.5% for ground coffee).
The leaves and buds of the Mate bush are harvested, briefly roasted, dried and cut to produce Green Mate. A second wood fire roasting will result in the softer tasting Roasted Mate. Mate is becoming popular in North America and Europe as a reputed natural hunger and thirst suppressant and as a natural stimulant.