Mate is an infusion made from yerba mate leaves, a plant native to the basins of the Paraná rivers, Paraguay and the upper course of the Uruguay river. These previously dried, cut and ground plants form yerba mate, which has a bitter taste due to the tannins in its leaves. The origin of the mate goes back to the native Guarani, they used the leaves of the tree as a drink, object of worship and exchange currency with other peoples. The native Guarani were perhaps the first to drink mate. The Jesuits introduced the culture in the reductions, contributed to its spread, the drink was then known as the "Jesuit tea". They were the first to manage to germinate the yerba seeds with a secret method, which allowed growing yerba mate to supply the reductions and even market it elsewhere.