Which plant is the source of yerba mate, the caffeinated drink popular in South America?

Ilex paraguariensis is the plant source of yerba mate, a caffeinated drink popular in South America.

This evergreen tree belongs to the holly genus, Ilex, and is native to parts of Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, and surrounding regions. Producers harvest and dry its leaves and young stems, then steep them in hot water. The drink is traditionally served in a hollow gourd and sipped through a filtered metal straw called a bombilla.

Yerba mate contains caffeine along with other compounds such as theobromine and polyphenols. Its use has deep Indigenous Guaraní roots and later became an important social tradition across several South American countries.

Yerba mate is not made from the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, or from coffee. Although all can provide caffeine, they come from unrelated plant groups and have distinct preparation traditions.