Mate is a traditional caffeine-rich infused drink, consumed in South American countries like Argentina , Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil.

Mate is served with a straw from a hollow calabash gourd shared among drinkers. The straw is called bombija in Latin and is traditionally made of silver. Modern, commercially available straws are typically made of stainless steel, or hollow-stemmed cane.

Thanks to the large community of Lebanese immigrants, mate was introduced to Lebanon at the turn of the 20th century, and became a common drink during social gatherings in some villages of the Bekaa and the Shouf.