A kind of tea is grown in Paraguay and Brazil which is now finding a market in some parts of the world, known as Yerba Mate. The botanical name of the plant is Ilex Paraguayensis. The merchantable leaves are also known under the trade name Juno. Tea drinkers, as a rule, are not greatly impressed with the virtues of Yerbe Mate as a substitute for tea. It has certain characteristics of tea, which may render it a beverage of some importance in the future. Quite a quantity of the tea is imported into the United States at the present time and a vigorous propaganda for its extended use has been inaugurated. The principal part of the trade comes through Brazil. The trade is already great and is growing rapidly, and is to be taken into consideration in all calculations regarding the commerce of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. In fact, contrary to the general understanding of the matter, it is true that far greater quantities of Yerba Mate are grown in Brazil than are grown in Paraguay itself.

The quantity of exports from Brazil, at the present time, is considerably over 50,000 tons annually, and its value ranges from $8,000,000 to $10,000,000. Of European countries Italy appears to have used the most; Germany also used a considerable quantity of it before the war, and France and Portugal small amounts.

There is practically no limit to the amount of this leaf which can be produced in Brazil. As part of Brazil is practically an undeveloped country, if this variety of tea should become popular, it may be that Brazil will become the great tea as well as the great coffee-producing country of the world.