Yerba mate comes from the South American countries of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. See the map below for its native range.
Yerba mate tea is made from the dried leaves of a small tree in the holly family, Ilex paraguariensis, that grows in a specific type of forest called the Atlantic Forest, or Matto Grosso. The Atlantic Forest has a climate similar to the US state of Florida.
Home to jaguars, toucans, and myriad tree species, the Atlantic Forest is under threat from logging, cattle grazing, and plantation-style agriculture. Yerba mate is adapted to the understory of the forest and can be grown in the shade of a thriving canopy. Organic yerba mate production encourages sustainable livelihoods for the people who inhabit these lands.
The first people to enjoy yerba mate’s benefits were the native Guaraní (pronounced Wah-ra-nee). The Guaraní developed a unique method of preparing the tea. They filled a hollow gourd with dried yerba mate and water, then sipped the infusion from a filter-tipped bamboo straw. Other herbs were often added for their medicinal benefits and flavors.
Spanish missionaries took up the practice of drinking yerba mate and popularized it throughout the region. In modern times, yerba mate is consumed on a daily basis by people of diverse backgrounds across South America and beyond.
ECOTEAS organic yerba mate comes from a four-generation family farm in the province of Misiones in northern Argentina. Our farm-partners have developed a unique 100% smoke-free process to dry their yerba mate, resulting in a smooth, clean taste free of smoke byproducts.
Our mission is to share organic yerba mate with the world.
