Nativa Yerba Mate comes from locally owned wild forests of yerba mate trees located in the sub-tropical rainforest in San Mateus, in the State of Parana, Brazil. This region of Brazilian-Ukranian owner-harvesters has been teaching their ecological harvesting practices for several generations. Ilex Paraguariensis (Yerba Mate, Cimarrao) accounts for 85% of the local economy. San Mateus is a beautiful place to visit, with flower-filled streets, middle-class lifestyle, and as safe as can be.
Nativa is ‘Air-Dried’ or ‘Unsmoked’ in that the modernized systems now used include methods to practically eliminate the direct contact with the ashes generated by the wood-burning fire oven used in drying the leaves.
There is a Museo del Mate to educate on the plant’s properties, history and natural harvesting processes required by the State to employ for sustainability. This includes allowing the trees to fully mature and only harvesting them every four years. This ensures the yerba mate forests’ natural vitality and excellent flavor.
Yerba Mate is much like wine in that it can vary in strength, flavor, caffeine levels and other nutrients depending on where it is grown. Female plants tend to be milder in flavor, and lower in caffeine. They are also relatively scarce in the areas where yerba mate is planted and cultivated, not wild-harvested, compared to the male plants. Nativa is proud to offer both a Traditional and Suave (Mild) blend
Nativa comes from wild yerba mate forests. Our 2lbs Traditional and 1lb Suave are sourced from a Certified Organic portion of these forests. Our bulk yerba is also clean, but uses traditional forms of eliminating pests. This includes planting a complimenting pest-deterring match for the yerba mate tree. It also includes cultural traditions, such as the neighbor’s sheep o mowing the lawn. Ancient trees naturally seed the new ones.
Nativa’s strength is in maintaining the best possible flavor and quality consistency for this natural plant. Plantation (sun)-grown plants tend to be much stronger in flavor and have higher caffeine levels.
We believe that the best yerba mate is grown in harmony with the forest. Our process follows strict standards:
We allow trees to fully mature, harvesting them only every four years to ensure the forest’s natural vitality.
We use modern, unsmoked air-drying methods to preserve the plant’s natural nutrients and clean taste.
Our yerba grows alongside native flora and fauna, utilizing natural pest-control traditions like companion planting instead of synthetic pesticides.
