If you visit Uruguay, there is one thing you will see everywhere: people carrying a thermos under one arm and a mate in the other hand. On the beach, at work, walking through the city or watching a sunset, mate is much more than a drink. It is a way of life. What Is Mate? Mate is a traditional South American infusion made from the leaves of the yerba mate plant (Ilex paraguariensis). The leaves are dried, processed and placed inside a mate gourd, where hot water is added thro