Harvesting the Nativa yerba mate leaf...

Nativa Yerba Mate comes from locally owned wild forests of yerba mate trees located in the sub-tropical rainforest in San Mateus, Parana, Brazil. This region of Brazilian-Ukranian owner-harvesters have been teaching their ecological harvesting practices for several generations. Yerba Mate, much like Vineyard Regions, has historically accounted for up to 85% of the local economy.

San Mateus is a beautiful place to visit, with flower-filled streets, virtually no crime and a middle-class lifestyle. There is a Museo del Mate to educate on the plant's properties, history and natural organic practices which need be employed for sustainability.

Mature trees are only harvested every 4 years to ensure the yerba mate forests' natural vitality and excellent flavor. These forests' are not contaminated with plantation (sun)-grown plants, which tend to be much stronger in flavor and caffeine levels.

The plant Ilex paraguariensis can also vary in strength of the flavor, caffeine levels and other nutrients depending on whether it is a male or female plant. 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. For this reason Nativa offers both a Traditional and Suave (Mild) blend of pure yerba mate leaves.

After much research, we have been able to confirm that there is no 'Certified Organic' Wild-Harvest yerba mate in Brazil. It is simply too cost-prohibitive to certify these areas versus the compact and efficient areas of plantation-grown yerba mate plants.

Below are images depicting the traditional steps in harvesting and preparing the leaves. Modernized systems now include methods of reducing the exposure to the wood-burning fire used in drying the leaves. Pictures coming soon.

Scenic southern Brazil.	Here yerba mate has grown wild for centuries.	100-year old yerba mate tree.	Younger trees sprout naturally alongside the ancient ones.	The yerba mate leaf.
After the harvest	Traditional leaf basket for carrying to the roasting facility.	Traditional drying method to rid the leaves of impurities.	Traditional wooden drying room.	At Nativa, we discard the bitter stems (palos).
We then grind the balance into the various cuts which comprise our terrific 100% pure blend of yerba mate leaves.	Since the yerba mate trees are native...	...they require no pesticides or fertilizers...	...only what is already there!