Yerba mate

This traditional herbal tea-like drink is consumed by the locals in great quantities. They carry small cups often still made from hollowed gourds. They pack the cups with the mate, and carry a thermos of hot water that they use to keep filling up their cups. They sip
the liquid with special metal straws that have a built-in filter at the base. Yerba mate grows only in climates much like this: red iron-oxide rich earth and plenty of humidity. This area, where Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay come together, is the central producer of mate for the world. And yes, you can buy this at home these days!