This is frequently called Paraguay tea, and is made from the dried leaves and small twigs of the ilex Para-guayensis, a tree closely allied to our ordinary holly tree. Mate contains a large amount of thein, and is valuable in exhaustion. It must be percolated the same as coffee. The better method is to make a funnel-shaped bag, put a wire or rod around the top, fit it to a china pitcher; scald the pitcher and bag, put a teaspoonful of mate in the bag, pour through a half pint of boiling water, lift the bag, and the infusion is ready for use. Serve plain or with sugar.

According to Pavy mate contains an astringent principle analogous to tannin, a volatile oil, and thein amounting to 1.20 per cent.

Mate is by far a greater nerve stimulant than Chinese tea, and should not be used to excess.

The writer has used it in cases of alcoholism with good results. Cold or hot, it allays the craving for alcohol.