Mate [mah-tay] tea is the national drink of Argentina. It’s a very strong tea that has a bitter, grassy flavor. Mate is traditionally drunk out of a hollow, dried gourd called a guampa (or just mate) with a sieve/straw called a bombilla. I usually drink mate cocido which is mate but in a tea bag instead of loose herbs like in the guampa. I put sugar in it too. But true Argentines drink it like this and sometimes without sugar. Then it is know as mate amargo (bitter mate). It is an acquired taste (being very bitter) so I decided to acquire it! I read up on how to prepare mate traditionally and made myself some. I love it now. Plus, the health benefits are great. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should.