Photograph from Aokettun on Flickr Ever since I spent a summer in South America, I’ve had a special place in my heart for mate—yes, it rhymes with “latte”—the spicy, earthy tea that Argentines guzzle like we North Americans do coffee. Walking down the streets of Buenos Aires, it’s not uncommon to see busy professionals with a silver mate gourd in one hand and a thermos of hot water in the other. The yerba mate plant has high levels of “mateine," a stimulant that, despite its name, is chemically identical to caffeine. Yet many people, for reasons not quite understood, find mateine easier to take. It’s a great boost of energy without the jitters, shakes, and stomachaches that a strong...
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