| Paraguay |
 yerba mate... Yerba mate (pron: yerba mahtay) is an herbal tea popular throughout the South American region, and which originated in Paraguay. In Brazil it is called chimarrao, and in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, yerba mate. In Argentina alone 92% of households consume 200,000 tons per year. Yerba mate is not just tea, rather a cultural phenomenon. Its medicinal benefits have been verified by laboratory studies; it contains ingredients that promote vitality and sound health. Yerba mate was first scientifically classified by Swiss botanist, Moses Bertoni, who settled in Paraguay in 1894. Yerba mate is OK to drink cold, particularly in the summer months, and Paraguayans are used to sharing a tereré (cold mate) in the parks and cafes.  Location: South America Status: UN Country Capital City: Asunción Main Cities: Ciudad del Este, Encarnación Population: 4,767,000 Area: 406,750 km2 Currency: 1 Paraguayan guaraní = 100 céntimos Languages: Spanish, Guaraní Religions: Roman Catholic |
