Guayaki Yerba Mate is sourced from the rainforests of South America, specifically Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The company works with local farmers who follow sustainable and organic practices. This ensures high quality and preservation of the rainforest.
The mate has properties similar to caffeinated plants. People can use the leaves like tea leaves to diffuse taste and properties. In addition to effects, yerba mate has cultural significance in South American folklore. It was discovered in modern-day Paraguay and Southern Brazil where natives called it an herb "from the gods." Natives drank it to boost physical and mental stamina. They used it for medicinal purposes and in religious ceremonies. Today, South Americans drink it like Americans drink coffee.
Guayakí sells drinks and leaves of the South American holly from the rainforest. It develops partnerships with producers and farmers using shade-grown agriculture. This method requires less water and helps regenerate land. In forested areas Guayakí maintains vegetation. Former soybean fields are restored. Guayakí values both social and environmental business aspects.
The best tasting mate is from rainforest shade leaves. Sun-grown leaves are less flavorful and nutrient-rich.
Guayaki’s shade-grown yerba mate offsets carbon dioxide production. Each pound of leaves reduces your carbon footprint by 573 grams.
One explanation is that yerba mate contains carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons also found in tobacco and grilled meat. More research on mate’s safety and side effects is needed. If you enjoy yerba mate, have it in moderation and consult your doctor.
The South American holly herb is native to South America where it’s an incredibly popular hot drink. It was thought to enhance stamina, a priority for the historical nomadic warrior society.
Yerba mate grows on an evergreen plant native to some South American regions. Traditionally, mate is drunk communally. The mate gourd is passed around a group. Each person drinks mate through a metal straw. This sharing of mate has cultural significance in South America.
Mate can also be made into a sweet, carbonated drink. This drink was developed in Cuba in the 1920s. Now it is popular in the Cuban culture of Miami.
Yerba mate originates from the forests of northern Argentina, southeastern Paraguay, and southwestern Brazil. Ancient Indigenous peoples like the Guarani and the Tupi used yerba mate for stamina and medicine. The Guarani believed it was a gift from the gods.
Today, yerba mate remains popular across South America. Argentina has the world’s highest consumption per capita. Over 90% of households there ingest yerba mate. It surpasses coffee and tea in popularity. The herb provides balanced, sustained energy. Its flavor appeals more than energy drinks. Beyond the stimulation, sharing mate connects people to traditional roots.
The yerba mate plant is very difficult to cultivate commercially because its seeds only germinate after being ingested by specific birds. The leaves, stems, and branches are harvested twice a year and then dried, chopped, and ground into powder for preparing the tea.
No matter how it is prepared, yerba mate is a boldly flavorful, energizing beverage that continues to inspire and delight people across South America and the world.