Yerba Mate

Mate, also known as yerba mate, is an infusion made from the dried, chopped leaves of the yerba mate plant. In Lebanon it is a much-loved social drink, often shared among family and friends during long visits. It is traditionally prepared in a small cup or gourd: the leaves are placed inside, hot but not boiling water is poured over them, and the drink is sipped through a metal straw with a built-in filter. The cup is topped up with water several times from the same leaves. Some people add sugar, lemon peel or mint to suit their taste. At Dekenet Al Nes in Baaqline, in the Chouf, mate is sold loose by weight in the herbal tea section. As a package-free shop, we encourage customers to bring their own jar or tin to refill, cutting down on single-use packaging.