A sacred
plant

Yerba Mate 101

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis). En liten urt med stor personlighet.

Det er bladene fra en eviggrønn plante som vokser i regnskogene i Sør-Amerika. På guaraní heter den ka'ay — et navn som er knyttet til selve mate-drikken.

Bladene har blitt brukt i Sør-Amerika i århundrer, og tradisjonen lever videre den dag i dag.

Where it started

Yerba mate has its roots in Guaraní culture, where the plant was valued as a gift from the divine and as a force from the forest. Across generations it has been a source of energy, focus and community.

From the Guaraní people the tradition spread through South America and became part of everyday life in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and parts of Brazil. In Argentina mate has become a deep part of the culture — drunk at home, at work, on the road and around the fire, usually shared between friends and family.

Today yerba mate travels further than ever. From the forests of South America, through Argentina and out into the world, it has found new people and new ways to be enjoyed. Now we stand here in Norway and take part in the same journey, with respect for the tradition and an eye on our own nature.

100 %

Grown organically by the rainforest in Misiones

100 %

Air-dried, clean yerba mate

2 Years of ageing

The leaves mature on the farm before packing

Sustainable growing

Yerba mate grows wild in the rainforests of South America: Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. Here the trees grow under the rainforest canopy, surrounded by a rich and living ecosystem. Ka'ay comes from Misiones in Argentina, where families have grown, cared for and lived off the land for generations. When you live off nature, you also have to look after it. That is why our mate is grown on regenerative principles, with methods that protect the soil, strengthen biodiversity and let the forest live.

How it is processed

Yerba mate has to be dried before it can be brewed. The most common method is to dry the leaves over open fire, which gives a clear smoky character and more bitterness.

But we wanted something else.

Looking for a cleaner, more nuanced taste we found another way: air-drying. Instead of smoking the leaves, they are dried gently with warm air, so the natural aromas and the subtle complexity are preserved.

Ageing

After drying we let the leaves rest for two years. This maturing lets the taste develop into a rounder, more balanced character.

Air-drying and long ageing give the leaves deeper earthy notes and sweet nuances. The result is a soft, refined yerba mate with a taste entirely its own. A new approach to an ancient tradition — and an important part of what sets KA'AY apart.

The ritual

Traditionally yerba mate is prepared in a gourd and drunk through a bombilla. The mate is passed around a circle, from person to person. Over hundreds of years this ritual has become a natural part of everyday life for the people of South America.

Mate can be prepared in many ways. It can be hot or cold, with herbs or fruit, but the essence stays the same: presence and intention.

Mate is not only about what you drink. It is about being present, about the people around you, and about taking the time to be together. An old ritual that still brings people closer.

What it does for you

Yerba mate gives you a steady kind of energy. Caffeine, polyphenols and natural antioxidants combine to keep your mind clear and your body going through the day.

No sudden peaks, no deep dips. Just a calmer, more balanced energy that lets you stay focused and present when you need it.

Drink mate, and meet the day a different way. More awake, more present, more yourself.

Atlanterhavsskogen er ett av verdens mest truede økosystemer — under 15 % av den opprinnelige skogen står igjen. Produsentene våre lar avling og skog gå i hverandre, og planter trær tilbake i jorda de høster fra, gjennom et program utviklet sammen med miljøforskere ved Universitetet i Misiones.

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