Contact Us

For anything Shade Tree Yerba Mate, Mate in general, love advice, etc. Contact Sean at: Sean@ShadeTreeMate.com

I am more than willing to chat, and would love to try any mate you think is worthy of tasting and putting up on the site.

Also, any Yerba Mate companies out there, I would love to work with Mate and will re-locate at anytime. Just a reminder to you all.

The Shade Tree Story

Shade Tree Mate started as an idea. In 2008 Uriah Johnson, and Sean Makau of Humboldt State University knew Mate needed a better alternative to what was becoming more of a mainstream product. They both knew they loved the business model of some emerging Mate companies, but disliked the taste, and those companies that had tasty Yerba Mate, there business practices were not as nice.

Sean & Uriah, decided that they wanted to start a company that catered to local patrons, with tasty Mate, and a business model to boot. With long gourd sessions of brain storming, and the drinking of every infusion they could think of Shade Tree was born. They found a distributor that sold them the tastiest Mate they could find for a reasonable price. They then began to purchase sustainable products to package the Mate, as well as find Cafés to sell the Mate. As this all unfolded, both Uriah & Sean were both in the Senior Year of schooling, not only did the work load pile on, so did orders. When they finally made a dent with the local scene, and attracted a big name account, just the sheer processing of the order pretty much unfolded the entire operation. The two bagged Mate into teabags until they sneezed powder. Both realized that with the 12 accounts that they did manage to hold, that Shade Tree Mate needed to be put on stand still.

Both felt accomplished, not only did they sponsor an intramural basketball team, but they had followers, and shared the world of Mate to many people that never would.

Soon after, the Shade Tree Mate website that was in production for about 3 months finally was finished. Of course this occurred right when Uriah & Sean decided Shade Tree Mate as a business, was over. Sean decided to take this opportunity to start an exposure site for Yerba Mate that would hopefully feature Mate infused products, Yerba Mate news, Mate reviews, and anything that may break some Mate news, or bring Shade Tree closer to its own entity or to become part of a new venture with a current Mate company in the industry. The blog was then created and Sean began working with a few different Mate companies (Mate Factor, Oregon Yerba Mate, & Runa(Guayusa)), and Shade Tree as it had started still stays true to its core value of introducing Mate to new consumers with a great business model. As Uriah has moved on to Forestry related careers, Sean is still seeking opportunities that will link Shade Tree to any Mate company in the industry as he updates this site as well as the blog: www.shadetreemate.blogspot.com. Although bummed Shade Tree did not flourish as a brand, both are happy with the outcome, and are excited for Matés future.

F.A.Q.

Q: What is the nutritional content of yerba mate?

A. Here is a chart that shows the nutritional value of a mug of yerba mate tea. Not every brand is exact but this is a rough estimate.

Yerba Mate Nutrition
Serving Size: 3g in 8 ounces
Calories 0
Niacin 15%
Riboflavin 6%
Zinc 8%
Iron 15%
Magnesium 4%
Potassium 19%
Chromium 130%

Q: What is up with antioxidants in yerba mate?

A: Yerba Mate is naturally loaded with antioxidants:

Antioxidant Power*
Yerba Mate 5000
Black Tea 3000
Green Tea 2700
*Expressed as the "ORAC value," which measures the ability of antioxidants to scavenge harmful free radicals. According to the free-radical theory of aging, this will slow the oxidative processes and free radical damage that can contribute to age-related degeneration and disease.
Note: A typical mate gourd contains 50g of yerba.

Q: Is yerba mate a green tea?

A: No. Green and black teas are both derived from the tea plant, Camelia sinensis. Yerba mate comes from the leaves of the South American holly tree (Ilex paraguariensis). A more accurate description for yerba mate would be a "caffeinated herbal tea".

Q. Why can't I use boiled water?

A. Boiled water has a different molecular structure, which kills the vital nutrients in the tea and will alter the taste - making it more bitter. Boiling water will also burn your mouth as it comes up the metal straw, and will wash out the yerba much sooner. Also using boiled water frequently is not good for your health.

Q. Why should I not stir the tea with the filtering straw (bombilla)?

A. Stirring plugs up the holes in the filtering tip.

Q.What does yerba mate taste like?

A. Yerba has a strong, distinctive and slightly bitter taste (similar to coffee), which many acquire a love for; if you are not among them, add a little honey, sugar, milk, lemon or numerous other things to your mate' and you'll find it a whole different experience.

Q: If yerba mate is so awesome, how come it isn't as popular as coffee or tea?

A: (Via EcoTeast.com) Argentines consume seven times more yerba mate than coffee. Uruguayans drink more tea per capita than any other culture on Earth, and it's all yerba mate. Yerba mate is also extremely popular in the middle east, where it is enjoyed communally in countries like Lebanon and Syria. Charles Darwin wrote enthusiastically of yerba mate back in the 19th century. French author Colette drank it in her 1930's Paris salons. We hear that Hillary Clinton, Madonna, and Matthew McConaughy are all fans. However, compared to coffee and tea, yerba mate is under-represented in Europe and North America. Two factors, one botanical and one political, contributed to yerba mate's historical isolation. During the colonial era, many efforts were made to cultivate yerba mate in other parts of the world. Unfortunately, no one could figure out how to get the bright red yerba mate berries to sprout. Maybe they should have asked the local Guarani people! The Guarani knew (and it took centuries for Europeans to learn) that yerba mate seeds have a hard outer coating. The seeds will only sprout once they pass through the digestive acids in a toucan's stomach. So, while Europeans planted coffee and tea around the world, yerba mate cultivation remained confined to its native South American forests, where the toucans obliged the local growers by feasting on the berries every year. The other reason for yerba mate's isolation is geo-political. The yerba mate growing region is located in the hinterland between three historically antagonistic countries, far from any seaport. Jesuit missionaries created a system of yerba mate plantations employing Guarani labor in Argentina in the 16th century, only to be expelled from the country when they grew too successful. Civil war, territorial disputes, and sadly, genocides have all left their mark on the region and hindered development of the yerba mate industry. In these relatively stable times, there is a huge opportunity to develop a sustainable, organic, fair trade yerba mate industry in South America, and perhaps one day, beyond. Demand is growing every year, and the future for yerba mate looks bright indeed.

Q: What is the best way to prepare mate?

A: Yerba mate is a versatile herb that can be prepared in many different ways. Visit the how to cure your gourd for complete instructions on how to prepare yerba mate with a gourd, and other ways. We here at Shade Tree Mate love the French Press.

Q. Why drink shade grown yerba mate?

A. Like coffee and tea, not all yerba mate tastes the same. The environment, growing conditions, and harvesting methods greatly affect the taste and potency of the Mate infusion. In fact, a recent study shows that shade grown yerba possesses a higher concentration of nutrients than plants cultivated under the hot sun!