maté

 
Pronunciation: /ˈmateɪ/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1 (also maté tea) a bitter infusion of the leaves of a South American shrub, which is high in caffeine: maté has an agreeable slightly aromatic odor
  • the leaves of the maté shrub.
  • 2 (also yerba maté) the South American shrub of the holly family which produces maté leaves.
    • Ilex paraguariensis, family Aquifoliaceae

Origin:

early 18th century: from Spanish mate, from Quechua mati