Yerba Maté consists of the magical leaves of the Maté plant, native to the South-American Rainforest.  Maté leaves are hand-picked by local workers, dried, and ground-up before you add them to your Calabaza with some hot water. Maté is very healthy. It contains many antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, as well as abundant polyphenols. No wonder South Americans often refer to Maté as the liquid vegetable.