not a country to shy away from taste experiments, brazil has a rich history of creating its own distinctive flavors. two notable examples of this are the beverages: matte and guaraná.

matte is a tea made from the leaves and stems of the yerba maté plant. served both hot and cold, the tea is often blended with a variety of different flavors. matte leão is the most common brand, and offers a range of over 100 different varieties.

guaraná is a soft drink, made from berries from the plant of the same name. as the drink is high in caffeine, it has been used as an energy substitute in brazil, and suits the high intensity lifestyle of rio de janeiro.