Paraguayan Wild Harvest Yerba Mate:

In the past, we sold a potent Yerba Mate variety from Paraguay.  It had a very bold flavor, but also had some bitterness from the way it was cured - a wood-burning heat source ~50ft away provided an ample drying environment.  However, it had somewhat of a smoky flavor which some customers didn't like.  It was still a favorite amongst the connoisseurs though, but we're now pleased to announce an improvement upon that grade of Mate...

Our new Paraguayan source!

We've been able to source a refined and highly palatable Yerba Mate harvest from Paraguay. With a very smooth taste and a distinctively semi-bold flavor, its potency is evidenced by its rich aroma and golden-green color.  We are confident you will like it much more than the previous Paraguayan offering!  This new product is just as potent, and lacks the smoky flavor!  We have compared many commercial and direct sources of Yerba Mate, and have found this product to excel in every way.  

This Yerba Mate is grown in the semi-tropical jungle in Paraguay without the use of pesticides and fertilizers.  It is completely organic and Certified Fair Trade.  Almost all sticks and stems are removed through a sifting process, and a 99% pure leaf product is created.  Our testers have found it to be amazing - you may also find this Yerba Mate to be your favorite variety too!

About Yerba Mate:

Yerba mate is a highly nutritious herbal product that is steeped in hot water to make a tea-like beverage. It is a staple of daily life for people in many South American countries. It has enjoyed a boom in popularity in the U.S. as more people are discovering the many health benefits provided by yerba mate. Word spread quickly when Oprah Winfrey listed yerba mate as one of the world's greatest super foods.

Health Benefits / Effects of Yerba Mate:

Yerba mate contains many naturally occurring nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Compared to Green Tea, yerba mate provides higher levels of antioxidants, and produces nearly twice as many metabolism boosting nutrients. Here is some of the positive impacts of yerba mate:

Energy - Yerba mate is a natural energy stimulant, providing an uplifting energy that is good for you. Most experience this energy boost without the jittery side effects of so-called energy drinks. It contains xanthines such as caffeine, theobromine and theophylline. It contains double the caffeine of many teas, but approximately half the caffeine content of coffee. This makes it a great coffee alternative. One can make the switch from coffee to yerba mate and forget about the stained teeth, and many other negative aspects of coffee. 

Immune System - Yerba mate is full of phytochemical polyphenols and saponins that have been proven to stimulate the immune system, protect against cellular degradation, and aid the body in preventing disease. Yerba mate also contains one of the highest naturally occurring concentrations of antioxidants. These antioxidants remove free radical intermediates, reducing oxidative stress that may damage or kill cells.

Weight Loss - Yerba mate is used in many countries to aid in weight loss. A study by Charlottenlund Medical Center tested an herbal preparation of yerba mate, guarana, and damiana for gastric emptying and weight loss properties. They concluded that the herbal preparation slowed gastric emptying and reduced the time needed to perceived fullness. This study found that significant weight loss was induced over 45 days in overweight patients that were treated in a primary health care context. 

Vitamins and Minerals - Among the many benefits of yerba mate is the fact that it contains many essential vitamins and minerals. One can think of it as nature's multi-vitamin supplement. Actually, research has shown that naturally occurring vitamins found in herbs and food may be more beneficial that the multivitamin pills found in stores. Here is a list of vitamins that naturally occur in yerba mate:

Vitamins: A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, and B Complex
Minerals: Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Magnesium, and Phosphorus
Additional Compounds: Fatty Acids, Chlorophyll, Flavonols, Polyphenols, Trace Minerals, Antioxidants, Pantothenic Acid and 15 Amino Acids. 
Inorganic Minerals: aluminum, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, potassium, and zinc

Preparing and Drinking Mate:

You can use a French Press, coffee maker, or srainer bag to make Mate into a tea. This Section shows the more traditional way of brewing yerba mate in a gourd.
Mate infusion is prepared by filling a hollowed gourd up to 3/4 of the way with yerba. Other herbs can be added for additional benefits or to alter the flavor. The ingredients in the gourd are then arranged by the preparer placing the palm of their hand over the opening, turning the gourd upside down and quickly shaking it to allow the finest material to settle near the palm (at the top of the gourd). It is then carefully tilted sideways to slightly upright and shaken gently to settle the material against the side of the gourd creating a slope that angles the material all the way to the opening. The gourd is then very gently tilted back onto its base with its preparer trying to maintain the structural integrity of the slope as much as possible. Some small shifting of the material will normally occur, but this is to be minimized as much as possible.

Some people now pour a small amount of cold water into the empty side of the gourd so that they can wet the yerba and shape/compact it more before inserting the specialized straw known as a bombilla. Others prefer to insert the bombilla with the yerba still dry. Either way, the bombilla is inserted with ones thumb on the drinking end of the straw and at an angle perpendicular to the slope of the yerba.