Ponche Brasiliero

This punch uses the famous Mate, an herb tea drunk daily in the south of Brazil and in Argentina. Traditionally, it is drunk out of Bombillas (hollow gourd) and sucked through a silver tube with a spoon-shaped strainer on the end.

2 cups strong Mate (herb tea)
1 cup lemon juice
4 cups orange juice
2 cups brandy
2 bottles dry white wine
1 bottle club soda
Sugar to taste

Make the tea and allow it to brew for 10 minutes. Strain and discard the leaves. Mix with the remaining ingredients except the soda water and sugar. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Pour into a punch bowl over ice cubes. Add the soda water and sugar to taste.