Maté tea is a popular beverage made from the leaves and stems of the yerba-maté (. Ilex paraguariensis Auguste Saint Hillaire), a plant native to the southern part of South America (Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay). The commercial products derived from the processing of yerba-maté are used in the preparation of several types of beverages appreciated for their peculiar bitter taste and functional properties (antioxidant, stimulant, diuretic, hypocholesterolemic, and hepatoprotective). The bulk of harvested yerba-maté leaves are used in the preparation of teas (known as maté tea), a partial infusion drink with hot water (. chimarrão), and a total infusion cold drink (. tererê). Important compounds found in maté products are caffeoyl derivatives, methylxanthines, and flavonoids. 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