What is Yerba mate?
{{about|the plant|the drink|Mate (drink)}} {{Taxobox | name = Yerba mate | status = LR/nt | status_system = iucn2.3 | image =Ilex_paraguariensis_-_Köhler–s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-074.jpg | image_width = 257px | image_caption = ''Ilex paraguariensis'' | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Aquifoliales]] | familia = [[Aquifoliaceae]] | genus = ''[[Ilex]]'' | binomial = ''Ilex paraguariensis''}} '''Yerba mate''', '''''Ilex paraguariensis''''', is a [[species]] of [[holly]] (family [[Aquifoliaceae]]) native to subtropical [[South America]]. It grows in [[Argentina]], southern [[Paraguay]], western [[Uruguay]] and southern [[Brazil]].<ref>{{IUCN2006|assessors=World Conservation Monitoring Centre|year=1998|id=32982|title=Ilex paraguariensis|downloaded=09 May 2006}}</ref> {{wiktionary}} The yerba mate plant is a [[shrub]] or small [[tree]]. It can grow up to 15 [[metre|meters]] tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[evergreen]], 7–11&nbsp;[[centimetre|cm]] long and 3–5.5&nbsp;cm wide. They have a serrated margin. The [[flower]]s are small, greenish-white, with four [[petal]]s. The [[fruit]] is a red [[berry]] 4–6&nbsp;mm diameter.<ref>[http://www.ushuaia.pl/yerba/what Yerba mate — what?] at Ushuaia.pl.</ref> ==Infusion== The infusion called ''[[mate (drink)|mate]]'' is prepared by steeping dry leaves (and twigs) of yerba mate in hot water, rather than boiling water like black tea or coffee. It is slightly weaker than coffee and much gentler on the stomach. Drinking mate with friends from a shared hollow [[calabash|gourd]] (also called a ''mate'' in Spanish, or ''cabaça'' or ''cuia'' in Portuguese) with a metal straw (a ''bombilla'' in Spanish, ''bomba'' or ''canudo'' in Portuguese) is an extremely common social practice in [[Argentina]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.argentinacafe.com/Background/argentina-yerba-mate.htm |title=Yerba Mate: National Drink of Argentina? |access-date=2007-06-12 |archive-date=2020-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.arch