Matte Cups

In Argentina, Uruguay and some of the other South American countries, matte, is a very popular herbal drink. You see people everywhere with their thermos flasks and pouches of matte.
The cups, as you can see here, tend to be very ornate and antiques are exceptionally collectible. The "straw" is made of alpaca silver with a gold mouthpiece with a filter system at the bottom to trap the herb leaves.
The taste is a somewhat bitter and an acquired taste but it's so easy to become addicted just like tea or coffee.

douglas