Is yerba mate just mate? The Definitive Guide to the South American Drink
                                
                                
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                                    4 min read                                
                            
                                In Uruguay, the highest consumer of the beverage, people drink an average of 10 kg of yerba mate per person annually. For many outside South America, however, the terminology can be confusing, with the terms 'yerba mate' and 'mate' often used interchangeably.