Not all loose yerba mate looks the same. There's a wide range of varieties out there, from emerald-green Brazilian yerba mate to tawny, smoky Paraguayan yerba mate.

All Yerba Mate Starts out Looking Like This!

Let's put aside questions of drying and aging methods for a moment, which determine a yerba mate's color and aroma, as we consider the types of yerba mate "cuts" that are available.

In our warehouse in southern Oregon, we keep three different yerba mate cuts in stock. The first variety is a finely milled pure-leaf cut that we use for manufacturing tea bags. Our Tea Bag Cut brews fast and strong, which makes it ideal for use in our Pure Yerba Mate and Holy Mate! Tea Bags. This blend is not available to individual consumers, but you can shoot us an email at info@yerbamate.com if you're a manufacturer seeking supply.

Pure Leaf Yerba Mate is a Great Choice for the Coffee Maker

The second cut we keep in stock is our signature Pure Leaf Cut that you will find in our Pure Leaf One-Pounders and Five Pounders. A Pure Leaf Cut has little to no stem in it, and very little powder as well. Pure Leaf Yerba Mate is a nice choice when you're brewing yerba mate in a French Press, espresso machine, or coffee percolator. It's easy to work with, and it makes a strong, bright cup of mate.

Finally, check out our Leaf/Stem Yerba Mate, which I prefer whenever I am making a traditional mate or terere. Also known as Yerba Mate Con Palo (Spanish for "Yerba Mate With Stem"), Traditional Whole Plant Yerba Mate contains stem and powder as well as leaf. Its flavor is milder (suave in Spanish) than Pure Leaf Yerba Mate. The stems add a subtle roundness to the flavor, while the powder lends a frothiness that some people compare to Japanese matcha tea. 

Choose a Whole Plant Cut when Drinking Mate Traditional-Style

Whole Plant Yerba Mate contains about 85% the caffeine of Pure Leaf Yerba Mate, but Whole Plant is actually higher in antioxidants. Because Whole Plant Yerba Mate uses more of the harvest, it is more ecological as well as economical. Compare prices here!