Anybody drink this stuff? It's considered THE drink of South America. I've not had the original beverage, served in a gourd, but I've just discoved that my grocery store sells it in tea bags. It's great, provides one heck of an alertness boost, and would serve well as a replacement for coffee in my survival kits. I get all the benefits of coffee but none of the stomach upset for some reason.

Yes, drinking it is a social ritual in much of South America. It is imbided through a metal straw with a filter at insertion end to block the tea leaves. It is communally passed around among a family or group of friends. Being invited to partake is a sign of friendship and to refuse is considered very rude. (By some standards, this is rather unhygenic, but you only live once...) I picked up one of these straws (and associated metal cups) in Argentina years ago.

It's a very acquired tasted, like most things, and I can't say I'm a big fan of the stuff. Give me good ole dunkin donuts coffee any time in comparison... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I don't understand why it doesn't bother your stomach, as it has a lot of caffeine, but maybe it's one of coffee's other known toxins that's bothering you.