Yerba mate is an herbal tea claimed to have the ability to stimulate the mind and many medicinal and healthful properties. The low caffeine lev
els make this herbal tea a fantastic substitute for coffee. "Ilex Paraguayans" is a medium sized tree cultivated in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil. Also during the time the Ottoman Empire ruled Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, many Arabs emigrated to Argentina, and there they learned to drink yerba mate.
Syria is also the biggest importer of yerba mate in the world, importing 15,000 tons a year. It is mostly the Druze community in Syria and Lebanon who maintain the culture and practice of mate. This evergreen member of the Holly family was introduced in South America by the Guarani Indians of these regions, who called it " the drink of the Gods" It is the leaves that are desirable. The need to be "deactivated" to release the natural enzymes. This process can be done by holding cut branches over open fire. The foliage are dried, toasted and crushed to produce a fine, flaky leaf tea.
