Yerba mate  is a South American shrub which is cultivated so that its tender shoots and leaves can be harvested.
The dried shoots and leaves are used to create a beverage called mate, which is one of the most popular beverages in South America.
Mate also appears in a toasted form for boiling water brewing, in which case it is called mate tea.
The consumption of mate  has spread to other parts of the world as well, with consumers drinking it instead of coffee as a refreshing and energizing beverage.