She is holding a mate (Spanish pronunciation - máh-tay).
Mate is the word for both the cup and the tea you drink out of it, though the tea is also frequently called "yerba mate". A mate cup is traditionally made from a small hollowed out gourd, but now you can find them in plastic, wood, metal, etc.
The main difference between mate and other teas is the straw. Google it to get an idea of what a mate straw looks like. It's a bent metal straw with a filter at the bottom. The filter keeps any leaves from getting through as you drink your tea.
You use loose leaf tea instead of bags so that some of the flavor will longer in the wood/gourd even after you empty the cup. The more you use your specific mate, the deeper, richer, and now unique the flavor can become.
Mate is the word for both the cup and the tea you drink out of it, though the tea is also frequently called "yerba mate". A mate cup is traditionally made from a small hollowed out gourd, but now you can find them in plastic, wood, metal, etc.
The main difference between mate and other teas is the straw. Google it to get an idea of what a mate straw looks like. It's a bent metal straw with a filter at the bottom. The filter keeps any leaves from getting through as you drink your tea.
You use loose leaf tea instead of bags so that some of the flavor will longer in the wood/gourd even after you empty the cup. The more you use your specific mate, the deeper, richer, and now unique the flavor can become.
Super interesting, thanks @unklethan