Mate is a traditional South American drink that is mostly consumed in Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, and Brasil. Yerba (what goes in the inside of the mate) is an infusion of caffeinated dried leaves. You pour hot water into the mate and then you drink it, out of a ¨bombilla¨ which is a type of metallic straw.  Mate is usually drunk with friends, family, colleagues, or at any social event or gathering.

Here in Uruguay it is prohibited to drink mate while driving – or while on public buses - because it has caused many accidents of people getting severely burned while driving. Mate is usually enjoyed in the mornings with breakfast or at work while starting off your day. It is also common to drink it in the afternoon around snack time as well.
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Any Uruguayan you meet will tell you how much they enjoy mate and are happy it is a part of their culture :)