Where to Find Yerba Mate
The wiki index has several recommended sources for where you fine folks get your mate. I was wondering if there are any Canadian drinkers out there that can recommend in-country suppliers for Canada. I’ve found some in local stores (Adonis and Kim Phat) but am obviously limited to their selections (Rosamonte, Cruz, and Pipore). What other "go to sources" would the fellow Canadians here recommend?
- Mate Libre is available across Canada in a huge selection of retailers!
- Here’s where you can find yerba mate both online and offline:
- Amazon
- Walmart
- Whole Foods
- Publix
Let’s take a closer look at 5 different yerba mate products that include some of my all-time favorites. Continue reading to find the best yerba mate brand for your preference.
Recommended Stores
PampaDirect is my favorite store. Although this seems biased, it’s for good reason. They’re a fairly new online store but they’ve already gained my trust and loyalty.
I called my local whole foods and they said they don’t have it. Amazon.ca says it is currently unavailable. The only other thing I could find is a different brand of yerba mate called ‘clean’, $32USD for a 12 pack.
Growing Conditions
It’s possible to grow yerba mate if you can control the plants’ climate, but large-scale cultivation poses challenges. Most plants require the right environment to develop well. The plant can grow in different settings, but the best tasting mate comes from leaves that have been grown in the shade of the rainforest. If you’re looking to just grow it as a pot plant, indoors, near a window then fine, go ahead.
We’re more or less indistinguishable from the rest of Canadian society except for one thing: we drink a hell of a lot of yerba mate. Growing up in Steinbach, I knew many people with a gourd and bombilla. In fact, I used to think that sipping on yerba was ‘a Mennonite thing.’
If you wish to purchase yerba mate, you have to look for Brazilian or Paraguayan-themed food markets. Keep in mind that aside from traditional yerba mate, there are also yerba mate drinks, and ready-made tea bags. If you head out to a supermarket, the first place to look for yerba mate is in the tea aisle, but if you can’t find it there, then the second best place is the international aisle.
Nutrients and Antioxidants
Yerba mate is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, making it a nutritious and energizing alternative to conventional teas and coffee.
Caffeine and Energy
The key difference is that Yerba Mate contains Theobromine, a natural alkaloid that makes the caffeine more "balanced," avoiding the classic coffee jitters. It also makes the energy effects last longer in your body without any secondary effects.
South Americans safely drink upwards of 1–4 liters of yerba mate per day. In United States, Canada, and Europe, it’s not uncommon for an avid yerba mate drinker to consume at least 1–2 liters per day.
The taste of Taragui mate is bitter and smoky with a rugged leather scent and mildly acidic aftertaste.
This genuine Argentinian set for drinking yerba mate tea includes a large-size handmade gourd that has had its outside layer cured with fire. It also comes with a specially designed spoon that you can use to fill the gourd, and a spooned bombilla straw made from stainless steel. With these accessories, you can enjoy a refreshing mate drink in the same traditional way that millions of South Americans do it every day.
Why So Expensive?
Yerba mate is native to South America, where it’s popular as a hot beverage and thought to be a gift from the gods to enhance stamina. The seeds only germinate after being digested by specific native birds, which makes commercial production difficult and the herb more precious.