Shade Tree Yerba Mate

Official New Blog!!!

2011-02-12T11:10:00.000-08:00

This is now the final home for Shade Tree Mate. New and improved Blog, and soon to be new and improved site:

THE BLOG

Thanks Everyone

Unofficial Release of New Blog

2011-01-30T20:57:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys,

Shade Tree Mate has an upgrade. The site is not ready, but I figured I would at least tell all the new blog is coming. Shade Tree will be having all new updates to the site itself, Twitter feed updates, Facebook, and now a blog that is so legit it is embedded into this awesome site created solely by Sam Johnson with a few illustrations by Mat Held.

http://shadetreemate.com/blog/
I wanna say thank you all for reading this blog, and I hope this is just the start to updates and Mate, and now Guayusa knowledge that will hopefully be spread to others around the net. I love Mate, it is my passion, and I hope you can tell by the reflection of this awesome site created by my friends.

Keep reading Shade Tree Mate, and hopefully you learn a little something about two great herbal “teas.”

http://shadetreemate.com/blog/

Yerba Mate + The Next Big Thing

2011-01-30T20:56:00.001-08:00

Two of the most popular plants in the world team up for a future hit:

http://culturemob.com/blog/canna-cola-new-medical-marijuana-soda-to-hit-colorado-dispensaries

“The main difference between Canna Cola, beyond potency issues, will be the marketing of the product. Clay Butler, a California entrepreneur out of Santa Cruz, states he wants to promote his sodas “how Snapple or Coca-Cola or Minute Maid would make a marijuana beverage, if they ever chose to do it.”

Very Cool, Shade Tree approval

Runa Makes a Cameo at Golden Globes

2011-01-30T20:54:00.000-08:00

Shade Tree’s new favorite tea, Guayusa from Runa.org promotes at Golden Globes:

http://www.naturalproductsmarketplace.com/news/2011/01/runa-amazon-guayusa-makes-a-cameo-at-golden-globe.aspx

Whats Next? Natalie Portman endoresment?
Shade Tree Stamp, check out www.Runa.org

Fusion Tea Room Review - Part 3

2011-01-23T17:22:00.000-08:00

Hello all, sorry for the delay of the Fusion Tea Room Samples. I will hit you with a quick one here:

I will be reviewing the Roasted Mate today:
This blend was very smooth. Made me feel a bit funky afterwards, but I felt very caffeinated which is weird with a roasted mate as lots of the mate attributes have been roasted out. This could have been due to lack of eating. This reminded me a lot of the MateFactor's roasted Mate in which a espresso blend of this seemed like it would rock. I would love to make a mate latte with this and some cinnamon on top. Roasted Mate is not really meant to be drank straight anyways if you ask me. Roasted Mate always needs additive, nothing against the mate itself.
Whenever I sample mate’s I always do it straight up no matter what, even if I know it is the wrong way to sample it. I enjoyed this blend for what it is. A good straight shootin Roasted Mate, well done Fusion Tea Room

Yerba Mate + Chocolate Odwalla (experiment)

2011-01-23T16:15:00.001-08:00

+ A customer came through my line at Whole Foods the other day with some loose leaf Mate and a Chocolate Protein Odwalla. I of course commented on the Mate not thinking, and she proceeded to tell me her father of 60 years of age drinks Mate plus this Odwalla Chocolate every morning, and has been doing this for years.

I proceeded to question everything about this. How does it taste? How did he think of this? Why did he think of this? Was it an accident? When is my break?

After prying for a few minutes, I had to give it up, as she needed her receipt, and I needed to keep my job. I bought a Chocolate Odwalla immediately after work and tried it the next morning…It Rocked. It tasted sooo good. I probably did a 5:1 Ratio, Mate being the 5, and the Odwalla was very prevalent, but it tasted like what a chocolate Mate blend should taste like.

So to all Mate companies, and Odwalla, check into this because this 60 year old somewhere in the world is a genius.

Tiny Footprint Coffee (Review & Overview)

2011-01-23T16:06:00.000-08:00

Tiny Footprint sent me a pound of espresso, and a pound of medium roast. As I received this package, I felt a sense of goodness, and I knew that two trees had been planted in the cloudforest of Ecuador. Not only did this excite me in my carbon footprint, but that I now was in contact with another great company working in Ecuador. Those who do not know, I am now a Brand Ambassador for Runa.org. I heard about Tiny Footprint through an article relating them to the company Guayaki, as we all know I LOVE Guayaki’s Business Model, and when I saw a similar idea with coffee, I latched on.

Anyways, I am rambling and giving no context for this post. Tiny Footprint's espresso is tasty, smells great, and kept me energized throughout my 9 hour shift a Whole Foods. Those who do not know about Tiny Footprint Coffee, must check them out ASAP.

Another thing I love about this company, is that they have a “Manifesto,” not a mission statement, but a Manifesto, read up:

Ask anyone what their shoe size is and they’ll answer without hesitation. Why, it’s 9 ½, they’ll say, staring down at their extended sneaker. Ask someone the size of their carbon footprint, however, and they’re likely to scratch their head. The truth is, the average American’s carbon footprint is a whopping 20 tonnes of CO2 per year. And everything you buy from cotton swabs to waffle irons makes your footprint grow and grow. That’s why we came out with Tiny Footprint Coffee. When you buy a pound of Tiny Footprint, we’ll more than offset the carbon impact of harvesting, roasting, and distribution by planting a small plot of carbon guzzling saplings in the Ecuadorian Mindo Cloudforest.
But this isn’t just regular old carbon offsetting we’re talking about. This is Gourmet Carbon. Which means that in addition to sucking carbon from the atmosphere, we’re also helping to protect dozens of threatened, vulnerable and endemic bird species by restoring critical habitats through reforestation. And what about the coffee, you say? Well, it’s pretty darn tasty in our estimation, made using beans that are shade grown on small family farms in some of the richest coffee soils in the world, in places like Peru, Flores, and Sumatra. So aside from enjoying a rich and delicious cup of coffee, you’ll receive the extra warm-fuzzy feeling of knowing that you’re doing some good in the world, too. And wouldn’t you know it, your carbon footprint just went down a size.

Thanks all for reading, and drink a stout glass of Tiny Footprint Coffee, and feel good about your purchasing power!
Shade Tree endorsed.

Ps: I have no idea how to rate coffee, but both rocked my Yerba Mate pallet!

Top Yerba Mate Latte's in Denver Colorado (ongoing study)

2011-01-20T12:49:00.000-08:00

I have been seeking out Mate Latte's since I have been here.

Colorado is flooded with two different Yerba Mate companies here in Denver. Or should I say three:

Aviva, Guayaki, and Pixie Mate. All three I respect dearly, but the diversity needs to change. All three of these companies have found there niche here, and my goal is to shake up Denver with Yerba Mate and Guayusa choices (time prevailing of course)

So here are the Top 4 Yerba Mate Latte's in order for now, I will update the list as I find more samples:

1. Kaladi Brothers Cafe: (They rip an Aviva shot from an espresso machine. Plus some vanilla and some flavor shots, plus steamed milk. Favorite because of the mate presence and they rip the shot)
2. Tenn St. Coffee & Books: (Guayaki concentrated + Steamed Soy milk. A little too sweet, not enough true tasting mate, but the mate is very prevalant. Tasty though)
3. Fluid Coffee Shop: (Pixie Mate concentrate used and steamed milk. Usually do not enjoy pixie but this was nice. Just because its 3rd does not mean I do not enjoy. Very tasty)
4. Wash perk (Shot ripped and steamed milk. Simple, and should have been favorite because most traditional, but waaaay to much milk. Just tasted like milk.)

Thanks all, Hit me up if you know of any good Yerba Mate Latte's ANYWHERE!

5X Blend - Oregon Yerba Mate Review

2011-01-18T17:42:00.000-08:00

Another awesome Oregon Yerba Mate Blend. Not only is this for the veteran drinkers of Mate because it gives a great stout glass of Mate, it is also smooth for rookies.
For all of the times you accidently made a weak brew, or god forbid you had to drink Mate from TeaBags, this blend is what Mate is all about.

A good characteristic for Mate is:
1. Can’t see through it
2. Has great sediment on the bottom
3. Gives some bubbles on top when brewed stoutly
4. Smooth, but a bit bitter taste
5. Is called 5X Blend

They Describe it as: Our 5X blend is the strongest mate ever made!
We blend traditional yerba mate with all natural yerba mate extract to create a blend 5 times stronger than traditional yerba mate alone!
If it was any stronger, you'd have to sign a waiver.

I am very happy with this blend, and out of probably 20 different brands of Mate I have laying around right now(literally), this is my regular brew, no joke.
Thanks again Oregon Yerba Mate and if you haven’t tried, heard of, or saught out Oregon Yerba Mate as of yet, you are trippin. Step up

Shade Tree Endorsed(I need a stamp).

Livestrong Recognizes Greatness When It Sees It

2011-01-15T21:22:00.001-08:00
www.LIVESTRONG.com

Lance Armstrong endorses Yerba Mate. Think if that went official.

How to Drink and Drive Like an Argentine

2011-01-13T08:57:00.000-08:00
Great Article by Peter Orosz

http://jalopnik.com/5729621/how-to-drink-and-drive-like-an-argentine

...As we bumped north at a high clip in the Sierras de Córdoba, I tried to balance my heavy camera in one hand and the sloshing cup of mate in the other, and kept imagining the forensic details of a typical Argentine DUI report as I pushed my sad neuromotor skills to the limit: third degree burns in crotch area combined with a penetrating injury to the frontal lobe of the brain...

Fusion Tea Room Reviews - Part 2

2011-01-13T08:37:00.000-08:00
The next installment of Fusion Tea Room's Yerba Mate reviews begins.

Today, Pistachio Lime Mate and Good Morning Mate

First Pistachio Lime Mate:
This blend was the most intriguing of all of the blends. Mate with sliced pistachios and actual pieces of limes. I was mortified and intrigued all at once, I had to try this blend.
When I finally got a chance, I was on my fourth cup of blended Mate drinks for the night. I was overloaded with liquids and my senses were heightened, but I was not going to not review it....right?
I immediately am taken a back by the smell, I say to myself, "this smells awful, pistachio and lime, what was Fusion Room thinking?" I brew a stout batch, and dig in...GLORIOUS! The team work of the pistachio and the lime worked wonderfully. At first I thought was going to be a dud, turned out to be great. They worked well together, and the smell was mellowed out when brewed. The Mate was not incredibly potent, but with a crazy blend like this, I did not expect to. I could taste the Mate though which I could not believe.
Awesome Blend... 4.25 out of 5

Now to review the Good Morning Blend:
As an avid Yerba Mate drinker, I have grown my pallet to enjoy bitter things. This does not only mean my taste buds, my nose as well. Before I review this I will say I hated the initial smell, before and after brewing. On that note, a VERY TASTY blend. The Mate wasn't very potent but it was there and it gave me a good, almost jittery energy. I know "jittery" is a four letter word in the world of Mate, but it was good jittery, ha! Great tasting blend although a suspect smelling one for a very sensitive nose. 3.5 out of 5
Thanks Fusion Tea Room!

Fusion Tea Room Reviews - Part 1

2011-01-10T15:07:00.000-08:00
Fusion Tea Room out of Texas recently hooked me up with a variety of Mate blends I have never seen. I am trying them as fast as I can but there are probably 10 different blends, ranging from Traditional to a Pistachio Lime blend that has actual Pistachios in it.

I will be reviewing the Traditional Green Mate and the Pumpkin Mate Blend today.

Firstly I will review the Traditional Yerba Mate:
This unsmoked Traditional Mate, at first smelled funky and at first I tried a strong brew, it smelled and tasted very off. This was most likely due to my not being able to pick up the sample sent to me for a good two weeks while I was away in Chico California. It probably became damp, and was stuck in extreme hot and cold temperatures for 2 weeks. Anyways...So I then brewed a not so strong cup, and it hit the spot. It was smooth, mild, and very drinkable. Fusion Tea Room understands that as an all encompassing herbal tea company, green unsmoked mate is probably the best bet for beginners, and a growing trend for new mate drinkers to enjoy its smooth taste.
Well Done - 4 out of 5

I will review the Pumpking Mate Blend now:
With a blend like this, you have to buy into the idea. With ELEVEN ingredients(honeybush,ginger,cinnamon,pumpkin seeds, etc, etc), I am assuming the roasted mate, doesn't get much play in here. Although I was incredible skeptical going in with the overload of ingredients and my not huge fondness of roasted mate, once I brewed up a nice hearty batch I took a sip, and LOVED it! Not only could I actually wade through the ingredients and distinguish the mate taste, it was smooth, and was great on a snowy morning in Denver. This blend will only be seasonal I am told, but when it comes back I will be giving this as Xmas gifts for years to come.
Great Job! 5 out of 5

Get in the Convo

2011-01-07T19:52:00.000-08:00
http://twitter.com/#!/saved-search/yerba%20mate

Yerba Mate Related Articles

2011-01-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

Can't always do a write up, but they should be seen by the world. Check these articles out for some recent Mate knowledge:

-http://www.agra-net.com/portal2/home.jsp?template=newsarticle&artid=20017837838&pubid=ag005
-http://www.freshfruitportal.com/2011/01/04/argentina-promotes-grapes-as-alternative-for-small-growers/
-http://www.buenosairesherald.com/BreakingNews/View/54159
-http://eduardomate.blogspot.com/

Upcoming Review! (Shade Tree "Branches out" CSN Style)

2011-01-07T19:32:00.000-08:00
Hey all, a few Shade Tree employee's are moving to the East Coast. Upon their departure I figured I would send them off with a parting gift.

Before I could even think of anything a rep from CSN Stores decided to help Shade Tree out with a $35 gift card on any item on any of their sites. These stores include cookware, to luggage stores, to many other items.

So be prepared for an unrelated to Mate review, on a product that you may see fit in the future.

Thanks to all of those at CSN, and go Shade Tree!

Will Starbucks include Yerba Mate in its Lineup? (Guest Blogger Cristian Bosch)

2010-12-24T15:51:00.001-08:00

Guest Blogger Cristian Bosch takes a crack at the question that pretty much every Yerba Mate drinker that is not biased to a Starbucks has. Will Starbucks bring in Yerba Mate. Cristian Bosch from http://www.yerbamatebar.com/ discusses this question from a blog post in 2009.

I’m sure this question has crossed the mind of some sophisticated tea drinker somewhere in the northern hemisphere. Yerba mate’s growth in popularity around the world is a fact. And its benefits cannot be understated: weight loss aid, improved circulation, mental stimulation, anti-depressant faculties, even anti-aging properties are all a testament to the tea’s great promise.

As someone from South America, I have always taken yerba mate consumption for granted. While in the U.S. obtaining the tea locally is difficult at best. But times are changing. Europe is rapidly embracing the tea’s health boost and even in the U.S. the demand is slowly but steadily growing. Yerba mate has already infiltrated boutique tea rooms around North America. A prime example is Mate Energy, a tea house in Monroe, Washington, where tea drinkers can get their usual cup of black tea, green tea or a yerba mate infusion.

To counter this argument I will say that drinking yerba mate in the traditional way is an acquired taste, and from personal experience one out of every three Americans who ever try it actually develop a liking for it. Nonetheless I think yerba mate consumption will soon reach its tipping point in the U.S. market and the floodgates will open for consumers to obtain their yerba mate fix. Overall tea consumption is on the rise as Americans perceive the downside of coffee overdose. In addition yerba mate provides variety and exotic allure for the tea drinker.

According to an article from NaturalNews.com “tea sales in the U.S. were just $1.8 billion 1990, but in 2004, they were over $5.5 billion. More and more trendy hotels and restaurants are reporting that tea orders are on the rise these days.”

Speaking specifically for the U.S. demand is the greatest in the greener western coastal states like Washington, Oregon and California; Washington being precisely Starbucks headquarters. I would think that eventually the coffee giant will have to take notice. But for a corporation like Starbucks to adopt Yerba Mate as a preferred flavor the tea’s demand will have to surge dramatically, particularly in the heartland. My prediction is that this will happen sooner rather than later. Maybe even within the next five years. Impossible some may say, but it’s just a matter of time for yerba mate to break out of the hippie circles and gravitate towards the mainstream.
As an example of this breakout process we have green tea, yerba mate’s main contender and once upon a time just an obscure tea selection that could only be imbibed at Chinatown in some metropolis. But over then last ten years, the tea burst into the marketplace, and today every major beverage company has some drink with this ingredient. I will even venture to say that yerba mate’s rise will be much quicker.

I’m hopeful that the day is near when I will set foot in Starbucks at a random corner of New York City to order a Grande Yerba Mate Latte. It’s not a matter of if but when.

Thanks Cristian!

Taylors Tonics (Mate Mjito minus the Mojito part)

2010-12-24T15:43:00.000-08:00

All of the West Coast Shade Tree heads out there. Try this product SF Based products and send your comments in about it. Shade Tree would love to taste this as well as help with Taylor Tonics exposure to the Mid-West.

Drink up Shade Tree-ers

WWW.TAYLORSTONICS.COM

Aviva Yerba-Mate to Idaho

2010-12-18T14:01:00.000-08:00

Exciting news in the world of Aviva. I do not speak about them much, but I thought I would pass along some info as I am unsure the Yerba Mate industry knows about. Aviva has moved to Idaho.

Aviva has moved to Idaho. Aviva has a new partner in Paraguay will be a great source for organic, renewable, fair trade yerba mate for years to come. They will be part of a group that is working with he Bertoni foundation. They manage a 300,000 hectare refuge in Paraguay. This is some of the last virgin forest there. In about a year, they will be purchasing Wild Harvest Yerba Mate from this preserve. More importantly they will be working with them to help develop this market for the native people who live here. Mainly the woman of the tribe. They are building them schools and trying to empower the woman of the tribe. Studies have shown this is the best way to help people in third world countries.

Its Official: Aviva, Ltd. - Aviva Yerba Mate - Just Like Green Tea, Only Better! (Sandpoint)

All of this info is from Dan Garcia from Aviva Yerba Mate, he rocks!
Thanks Guys!

Guayaki goes Guerilla

2010-12-18T13:51:00.000-08:00

Port Townsend Food Coop has started the use of QR Code shelf talkers. They have introduced QR Codes to direct shoppers to informational videos on Guayaki Yerba Mate.
If you download the correct app, the QR Codes allow you the scan the item and then watch a video about Guayaki Yerba Mate: http://blog.seattlepi.com/videoblogging/archives/231130.asp
Guerilla Tactics, Shade Tree Endorsed

Tiny Footprint Coffee (unrelated again, but awesome)

2010-12-18T10:16:00.000-08:00

I know this seems anti-yerba mate but trust me, this is a great start-up company with a great vision. Helping Migratory birds in Ecuador while having a negative Carbon footprint is great. I enjoy the occasional espresso I will not lie. Check out the article and site:

Tiny Foot Print Article

http://tinyfootprintcoffee.com/

It's simple

Tea with Tyson (a bit unrelated but hilarious)

2010-12-18T10:13:00.000-08:00

Just insert Chamomile with Mate and the greatest video on earth has been created.

Yerba Tea (.com)

2010-12-10T17:59:00.000-08:00

Hit up YerbaTea.com for good people and good mate.
Shade Tree endorsed.

Guayaki (& Pure Mind) (New thoughts)

2010-12-10T17:41:00.000-08:00
As we all know here on Shade Tree Mate I have been critical of Guayaki. Not only with there communication skills with Shade Tree, as well with there Taste of Mate.

In all fairness, these judgements have been rash, and a bit hasty. As many Shade Tree affiliates know I have visited Guayaki's main office, as well as e-mailed every single employee of the company.

I want to give a big apology to any Guayaki employee that tried to write me back, as I was informed that my e-mail has been bouncing for many people...including the folks of Guayaki.

I want to give a big apology for any snide remarks I made of Guayaki's communication skills, as well as there taste of Mate. I like the San Mateo blend to name one, and will be testing many new blends after a few Xmas gifts.

----------------------------------------------
I also want to give praise to the Mental Clarity, Pomegranate blend that is "Pure Mind." This holds as my favorite Juicy Mate because of its great taste, and great components such as Ginkgo Biloba. Shade Tree appreciates any attempt to sharpen the memory.

Thanks Guayaki for helping all Mate companies in there quests to show the way of the Yerba.

Yerba Mate on National Television (although Minute Maid)

2010-12-06T13:55:00.000-08:00

Shade Tree just saw a Minute Maid commercial where they ZOOM in on the word "Yerba Mate Extract" for at least 2 Seconds!!!

Crazy, first time I have seen Mate mentioned on a National TV commercial. I haven't looked for the commercial on Youtube yet, but I figured this feat would be conquered by a legit product such as Guayaki. O well.

www.SHADETREEMATE.com

Post Thanksgiving Drink...Yerba Mate

2010-12-03T18:06:00.000-08:00

For all those in touch with the Morning Star Ranch people in California, they have made this grapefruit, yerba mate, kale, etc etc drink that I have heard from many sources is tasty.

This article describes why you should be drinking this tasty infusion after a hearty holiday feast: www.morningstarranchgreendrink.com
Hit this article up, and check out morning star ranch: Look no further than The Morningstar Ranch's already prepared Green Drink. It's made with all organic, nutrition-packed ingredients: rainbow chard, collard greens, kale, wild spinach, grapefruit juice with seeds left in, apples, yerba mate, raw agave nectar and flax seeds.

And if anybody can send me some I would not mind, thanks all!

Minute Maid (Natural Energy with Yerba Mate)

2010-12-03T18:00:00.000-08:00

Well Yerba Mate enthusiasts, I have found a Yerba Mate infusion to AVOID.

This sugar infused Strawberry Kiwi with Yerba Mate and "Caffeine from Coffee beans(whatever this means)" is absolutely awful.

It does not taste of Yerba Mate, it does not taste like the Kiwi Strawberry I know from Snapple, which is quite sugary but bearable. This terrible drink leaves your mouth coated and hurting after a cough surapy swig of this garbage.

I was jacked up because of the intense amount of sugar. But for Yerba Mate sakes, this is a step backwards.

Thanks all that read this entire post.

Shade Tree

Guayusa & Runa.org

2010-11-19T09:31:00.000-08:00

Shade Tree is pumped on Guayusa and Runa.org
If you simply go to youtube.com and type in Guayusa and Runa you will easily know why.
The creators of this new company are: Winner of the Rhode Island 2009 Business Plan Competition's Student Track and Winners of Brown University Entrepreneurship Program's 2009 Business Plan Competition.

We here at Shade Tree are jacked up on the Entrepreneurial Spirit that Runa is exerting.
Keep your ear to the grindstone and check out www.RUNA.org

Semi-WyndHorse Review

2010-11-19T09:07:00.000-08:00

WyndHorse.com sent me an unreal platter of Yerba Mate and supplies. They sent me:
-Two Gourds (one pre-cured)
-Every Blend they got

I decided to do a semi-review as I have been so busy and have only been able to try a few, but I love the WyndHorse so I will put something up. Here is a noteworthy review of a few WyndHorse Blends:

Cafe Che: Described as: If you love the rich taste of coffee it's here. If you hate the acid and coffee jitters—they're not. Cafe Che is rich and smooth; great straight or with cream and sugar. You may never want plain old coffee again:
My Review:
-First Coffee/Mate that actually has both ingredients that are predominant.
-Smells like Mate and Coffee, and has a great look.
-I love the name
-I love the blend, I love that they mix the ingredients and not just do some weird infusing that PowerCafe does through Jeremiahs Picks that does not tell you why or how it is Yerba Mate + Coffee.

Fuego Blend: Described as:
A Potent Mix of Brazilian and Argentine Pure Leaf Yerba Mates. This is our kick-ass blend for those days when you need an extra jolt. Fuego is great in the gourd but also makes a fine, strong infusion in a tea ball or filter. Try it in our Bodum Assam Infuser. This is a no-nonsense, pure leaf mate with a bold, slightly smoky taste. For the serious yerba mate drinker. This one will keep you at attention.
My Review:
-Love idea of super strong blend of Brazilian & Argentinean Mate
-Great smell
-Stemless it seemed.
-Cut very fine with powder
-Felt great holding the Mate, this is the way Mate should feel, look, taste.
-Taste was strong, lots of sediments, tasty, smooth
-Enjoyed VERY much
-Great blend, this will become a Shade Tree staple.

I LOVE WYNDHORSE. Wyndhorse must work on packaging though. Very cluttered, long winded, not very professional looking though. I do enjoy all of the info they pack on the bag though, nice to read while sipping on Mate. Conciseness must be worked upon

O yea and I recieved this awesome water bottle which is the greatest water bottle ever assembled, THANKS GUYS

www.WYNDHORSE.com

Wndhorse Review Coming Soon!

2010-11-16T12:34:00.001-08:00

Check out www.Wyndhorse.com

Review coming soon, some good different Yerba Mate!

Mateveza defends itself in Michigan

2010-11-13T10:59:00.000-08:00
Shade Tree supports Mateveza:
...
We believe our inclusion on this list was a mistake; MateVeza is not currently sold in Michigan and it hardly fits the Commission's characterization (inexpensive, brightly colored can of 12% alcohol malt liquor with added caffeine). Since MateVeza is made with yerba mate as an ingredient and not caffeine as an additive, it is in full compliance with TTB and FDA guidelines. Further, MateVeza was not included in the FDA's inquiry into caffeinated alcoholic beverages. We have brought this to the Commission's attention and are seeking to be removed from their list even though we have no immediate plans to distribute to Michigan.
...

Read up and support Mateveza.com

Tulsi Mate from EcoTeas (Shade Tree Review)

2010-11-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

If you are a Shade Tree Yerba Mate follower, you may know our thoughts on EcoTeas. Great Company, Great People running it, Cheap Mate, Nice blended teabags, Great new look, but inconsistent Loose Leaf Mate that does not stack up to other unsmoked Mate's
I have recently been speaking with a few people at EcoTeas online and they are the nicest people of all time. Even though I voice my opinion on EcoTeas they still support the blog and say all nice things. Here is Shade Tree's review of the new look and Tulsi Mate through Ecoteas (in note form of course):

-AWESOME DRINK!
-EcoTeas' best move.
-So smooth, so tasty, awesome when strong.
-Great blend, accentuates mate while being able to taste tulsi.
-Potential for awesome Juicy Mate that I think would have awesome marketability and would stay on track with EcoTeas' mission for cheap, sustainable Mate products.

-I received a ½ lb bag, hopefully they sell 1 lb bags because this is one of the best loose leaf blended mate's I have ever tried. Nothing overwhelms another ingredient, and it still gives you everything a good Yerba Mate should.

Only draw back to this Mate is that it does not have the re-usability that Mate usually entails. One use only, and the drink must be pretty hot.

Double use or luke warm Tulsi Loose Leaf = No

Great Drink Guys thank you sooooo much!

WWW.ECOTEAS.COM

Shade Tree Xmas(Holiday) List

2010-11-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

Kettle made for Yerba Mate

Check it!

StashTea Introduces GUAYUSA (Shade Tree Review)!!!

2010-11-01T15:14:00.000-07:00

I have been speaking with some Guayusa Reps as of late, and the drink seems as if it may be the drink that Yerba Mate was in the 1990's. Shade Tree had to investigate.

Described as on StashTea as: Guayusa has been part of the Amazonian culture and cultivation for over 2,000 years, treasured for its unique balance of caffeine, antioxidants, vitamins and amino acids*. Guayusa is grown and hand-picked by local farmers from the rich soil under the canopy of the Amazon Rainforest. Your purchase of Guayusa supports small farmers in Ecuador and the livelihood of their families and the local community, helps the Amazon Rainforest thrive, and respects the cultural traditions of native Ecuadorians.

Sounds like another drink we all know and love...

--------------------------------------------------

I received Chocolate blend, Yerba Mate blend, and Traditional about 2 weeks ago and have been itchin to send out a post about GUAYUSA.

First tried Traditional by itself.
-They sent little tea bag filters with it which was great, but with my Yerba Mate roots I took that traditional Guayusa and put it in my French Press stat.

The smell was a bit like mate. It was much more “grassy” and smelled a bit like mate that has gone “bad.” This does not mean it was unpleasant in the least, just a smell that I recognize a bit, this does not mean my Guayusa was old.

Boiled the water, put about half of what I usually put in my FP for mate(which is a lot), waited about 5 minutes and poured:
----Tasted a little like old mate. It was an incredible smooth taste, but I felt like I was drinking old mate. My bias may have been set after I smelled the Guayusa though. Further into my first Guayusa experience I felt the awakeness and alertness that I had read about. Probably one of the most “badass” teas I have dranken as it is called in Ecuador “The Night Watchmen” for its ability to let hunters be more alert when hunting. How cool is that!

I then a few days later tried a blend of Traditional Guayusa with some Traditional Yerba Mate from MateFactor. This drink rocked my world! The Mate made the drink stronger and leveled out the grassy taste I had before. It was so tasty and made me feel great before a long 8 hour shift at Whole Foods which went awesome as this drink legitimately put me in a great mood.

Thanks so much for the product, Shade Tree approves, Keep in touch!

WWW.STASHTEA.COM GUAYUSA!!!

2010-10-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

The Republic of Tea people are AMAZING! I asked for a T-Shirt for my upcoming job at Whole Foods as they only allow vendor shirts with logos, and Republic of Tea answered my call no questions asked. They sent me some Yerba Mate Blend, a T Shirt, and a Hat, which are all super funky fresh.

Thanks again Guys…To the Review:

So I tried the Yerba Mate blend, which to my surprise was in tea bags, which isn’t really my style. This blend has Rooibos, cactus flowers, almonds, among other things. I waited to take a sip of the Yerba until I started driving as driving is one of the best ways to sip on some Mate. The first thing I noticed was the Vanilla flavor and its overall incredibly desserty smoothness to the drink.

I of course tried this drink in the morning and was taken aback by its nighttime smoothness and had some immediate nostalgia over last nights sleep. Republic of Tea markets this Yerba Mate blend as an all-night dance tea, but I feel like this should be a post-meal stay awake and talk near a fire drink. I enjoyed the drink immensely but will only be drinking this at night when I need to warm up and just chat.

A very nice drink, with a great look, and a great company behind it.

Thanks a lot guys! Shade Tree endorsed. Click the Picture to get TO THE REPUBLIC OF TEA--->>>

Simply Mate (Pacific Natural Foods) REVIEW!!

2010-10-30T09:26:00.000-07:00

Pacific Natural Foods
Simply Mate Lineup

This juicy Yerba Mate does not get the respect it deserves. I have never had a more Yerba Mate based drink that I enjoyed more than these folks’ Mate drink. For those drinking the two main Juicy Mate’s here is my comparison:

Simply Mate vs. Guayaki Juicy Mate:

Simply Mate has more Mate presence, is cheaper, cooler and probably more sustainable packaging. Simply Mate uses Mate as its main ingredient, and is subtle and stays true to Mate’s taste, it does not try to dumb down the mate so the populous will enjoy it. Simply Mate is for the Mate drinker

Simply Mate vs. Honest Tea

There is no question Simply Mate dominates Honest Teas’ attempt at a Juicy Mate. Honest Tea may be cheaper but you are getting a very low amount of Mate and the taste is just not there with Honest Tea. Honest Tea does not know its customer, it is trying to create one, which is understandable(except for the die hard Mate drinkers).

Pacific Natural Foods, I have heard you may stop making your line of Yerba Mate infusions.
PLEASE DO NOT!!!
Thanks for a great drink!

WWW.PACIFICYERBAMATE.COM

Rainforest Mate - Mighty Leaf - Review

2010-10-29T21:10:00.000-07:00

Rainforest Mate

Described on the site as:

Leaves
Unroasted matÈ, licorice, spices, rosehips, apple chunks and fruit notes

Aroma
Spiced apple and fruit notes

Color
Golden yellow

Taste
Hearty with a slight zestiness, fruited and spiced with a slightly sweet finish

Here is Shade Tree's infamous noteworthy review of another Mate infusion:

Perfumy
MOST AWESOME TEA BAGS ON THE MARKET!!!
Very very smooth, but too fruity.
Too many ingredients for mate drinkers to like.

Could be a great Mate Mojito.

Felt like they just picked all of the ingredients randomly and threw them in.

Grew on me as I drank.

Such a pleasant taste in my mouth after drink though.

I Love Mighty Leaf's style though, and I love the teabags. If they came out with straight good Traditional Mate with these Teabags I feel they could take a lot of business away from other companies that sell teabags. I never buy Mate in teabags but I can guarantee you if I ever did I would buy theirs if they have Traditional Mate in teabags.

THIS IS MY PLEA TO MIGHTY LEAF, FIND SOME GREAT YERBA MATE AND MAKE 4.5 GRAM TEABAGS!!!

Thanks guys!

WWW.MIGHTYLEAF.COM

Numi Lemon Green (Yerba Mate Infusion) Review

2010-10-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

Mate Lemon Green Tea - Rainforest Green™

I emailed Numi about trying some Numi Lemon Yerba Mate with some Green Tea.

This is what I came up with:

Great look: I LOVE Numi's drawings and art. Best art in industry.

Very Smooth: This drink is incredibly smooth. I love the sediments. Due to the supply of Mate Factor Fresh Green Yerba Mate as their base. Lemon Mate is always a bit rough to drink without sugar or juice, but very smooth, sometimes a bit stringent if brewed for too long

Very Lemony: As said before if brewed for too long a bit stringent. I love mate, so I enjoy more predominant mate, but I understand Numi's customer base.

Taste is awesome, kept me warm. I drank this on the first day of cold in Denver, and it did the trick.

I really enjoy Numi, as MateFactor supplies their Mate which makes it very smooth. I don’t know the percentages of Green Tea and Yerba Mate, but maybe cut the Green Tea in half and Double the Mate and it would become a staple for Shade Tree

Thanks Numi! Great Drink!

WWW.NUMI.COM

Terranova Yerba Mate/Green Coffee Scrub (Second Attempt)

2010-10-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

TerraNova was so pleasant in sending me some scrub ASAP.

I love this Yerba Mate/Green Coffee scrub.

I was once smelly, now I am not. I recommend this to ALL! It is very exfoliating, scrubs well and does not dissipate very fast, and really gets you feeling clean.

I love that it is in a bottle and not a bar so you can control how much you use and not lose a bit when you don’t wish to.

Packaging and logos are not very polished but it really does not matter as this is an awesome product.

It took me a bit to figure out how to contact these guys and where they were located but now that I have I am very pleased, they were so friendly and sent me this AWESOME Yerba Mate/Green Coffee scrub that I now use everyday.

My stinkiness throughout the day is gone. Thank you.

Shade Tree Bump

http://www.storeterranovabody.com/

Wembe - Yerba Mate Exfoliating Blend (First Attempt)

2010-10-25T20:19:00.000-07:00
Wembe was one of the first finds on the Yerba Mate soap adventure. When I saw this brand's way of speaking about Mate and the image they portray I knew this would be every Mate lover's new way to bathe. They definitly sound a bit like Guayaki's step child, but I would love to own many bars of this if it were a bit cheaper.

My girlfriend and I both tried this soap and we came up with some Pros & Cons in note form:

Pros:
-Very Manly smelling
-Great strong sharp scent (clean)
-Great smell for men and women
-Invigorating, will wake you up in the morning
-Great exfoliating (rough, but not harsh, gentle yet cleansing)
-Very soapy even though didn't seem it at first
-For natural soap, hard to find that nice.
-makes you smell clean, but not an overwhelming fragrance on your body
-“One of my more liked Mate products”

Cons:
-Clogs drain
-Goes quickly
-Expensive

Click Here To Check This Stuff Out

You guys rock!

http://www.wembe.com

Shade Tree Smells! (Yerba Mate solves anything)

2010-10-25T20:06:00.000-07:00
So for those in the Shade Tree Mate circle, Founder/CEO of Shade Tree Mate Sean Makau has been exponentially stinkier in the last few months. This has to do with the long hours Mate blogging, sleeping in a basement, working quite a bit, and vowing to never use any body scrub or deodorant that does not contain Yerba Mate in some form.

Luckily I have found some products that have what I am looking for. The next few posts are these very products. Enjoy!

Artist Explained...Check out Emilio Hurtado

2010-10-18T19:21:00.000-07:00

Emilio Hurtado

"I'm Emilio F. Hurtado Laureano, and I was born in Huancayo on May 28, 1954. This art is in my blood. My art has been carried within my family from generation to generation, all of us bringing to life the magical world of natural materials. Through my own initiative and desire to learn, my eyes saw and my hands created. This is how I began in this wonderful world, trying to create and create....

"I'd like to tell Novica shoppers that our carved mate gourds are filled with history and culture. They are more than a gift, they are the result of generations of artisans. We are very proud of them and grateful for this opportunity."....

http://www.novica.com/artistdetail/index.cfm?faid=6001

Check his stuff out! Shade Tree does!

Awesome Mate Gourd Art (History of Artist Coming Soon...)

2010-10-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

Study in Argentina (Shade Tree Scholarship)

2010-10-18T18:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.boston.com/travel/articles/2010/10/17/a_semester_in_argentina/

Great synopsis of Argentinian culture with the addition of Yerba Mate.

Heres a bit of the article:

...LOST IN TRANSLATION: “The professors in my classes all speak slowly and clearly, but the students all seem to be so hyped up on yerba mate [a tea drink] that they speak a million words a minute.’’

TEA SPEAK: “Tradition can make things confusing. For instance, if someone is handing you a mate [the tea is shared communally among friends], saying ‘gracias’ signifies that you don’t want any more, not that you are, well, thankful.’’

Thanks for the great article Avi and Chris

O yes and the Shade Tree Scholarship is a free Shade Tree T-Shirt a lb of Oregon Yerba Mate if you study in any Mate drinking country

http://www.boston.com/travel/articles/2010/10/17/a_semester_in_argentina/

Pixie Mate Reviews!!!

2010-10-12T07:20:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote Dan Olson of Pixie Mate based in Boulder. I had heard that Pixie Mate had joined with 3rd Street Chai. I wanted to find out more details, and try some Pixie Mate as I had only had a very limited amount of the stuff.

From first look on their website, the incredibly quirky laced wordage is quite intriguing. They describe their founding story as:
Two amigos in Boulder went looking for a healthy change. They discovered the newest old beverage and launched the sacred sip that gives the buzz of coffee a blush of shame. They mingled the mystery of mate with the juice of cheeky and a squeeze of sass, and called it Pixie Mate. It will float your soul on the wings of a softer buzz and beat the bushes for body-happy antioxidants. Pixie Mate. Take flight.
After reading their entire website(http://pixiemate.com/find.html), I wanted to know more about Pixie Mate and 3rd Street Chai now. Dan Olson was awesome and gave me some great info:

"Third Street and Pixie were both local companies that merged a year and a half ago. Third Street makes Chai and Iced Tea concentrates and Pixie makes Yerba Mate concentrates (among other things), so there was a great opportunity to combine manufacturing (Pixie concentrate production was outsourced prior to the merger). Plus, many of our customers in the specialty coffee channel overlapped and there were many opportunities to gain lots of distribution.

The good news is that our concentrates are now microbrewed in Boulder, using real organic spices, in our 100% wind-powered facility. We also now compost 100% of our ingredients with local farmers and we’re able to offer our product in recyclable #5 plastic bottles, instead of tetrapacks (which aren’t easy to recycle)"

I couldn't of said it better.

Here is my review: (minus Mate Chai concentrate, coming soon...)

Mate Latte Concentrate
-After creating the drink as you can see above, I notice off the first sip that the taste is very "throaty," and that a minty taste is very prominent while also refreshing which leaves me with pleasant breath.
-It is a very sweet, but drinkable beverage, which I enjoyed. My Girlfriend thought it was too sweet and wanted more Mate presence.

-My final thoughts on the drink is that it is very tasty, but the mate is not prominent enough and it has too much “chai” taste, which my girlfriend and I were quite confused by.

The next reviews are all Yerba Mate infusions in TeaBags (In note form):

Ruby Roobios Mate
-Tasted a bit "Metallicy." Unsure why, I feel it may be the packaging
-Very Flavorful and Tasty
-Got me really Jacked up
-Had to use the restroom a bunch
-Potentially awesome Juicy mate.

Great Infusion, I REALLY enjoyed this one.

4/5

Green Tea Mate
-A very tasty blend
-The metallic taste is very overwhelming and daunting
-The Mate and the Green Tea both bring their own tastes, which blend together very nicely.
-Didn’t jack me up, which I needed at the time. Unsure why.

3.5/5

Traditional Mate
-Not as "metallicy" as the above two
-I would love to try their loose leaf tea, as teabags need to be stronger
-The Mate tastes unsmoked but it is hard to tell.
-It tastes much like EcoTeas
-Very smooth and drinkable

4/5

Chocolate Mate
-Smells like Chicory. Very strong, not very pleasant
-Has potential for awesome Mate Milkshake
-Mate not very prominent
-Honey or Mascovo addition could be tasty
-Bit watery, minty, metallicy
-Taste grew on me as I drank it as I was weiry of chocolate mate
-I think this blend has potential for espresso mate, mate lattes, and mate milkshakes.
-Post Drink analysis: Mouthy minty feeling, I am not understanding this minty feeling that Pixie has been giving me.

2/5

Limon Mate
-Most tasty blend I have tried so far.
-Best Limon Mate blend I have tasted
-Would enjoy more mate presence, but very tasty
-Little metallicy
-Well done.

4.5/5

Mate Chai
-CARDAMOM is a very strong presence. Overpowering smell
-Can’t taste mate
-Smooth, but a bit bland
-Metallicy, makes mouth minty feeling
-Bit of spice when swallow

2/5

Dark Roast Mate
-Minty
-Smooth
-At first I hated it, but became tasty. Smell is not pleasant though
-Nothing special, but drinkable

3/5

Thank you so much Pixie Mate. On the whole, I would say that Pixie is hit or miss with their deliciousness, but they do have it. I feel they need to work on the "metallic" taste, and the minty post-drink taste I have in my mouth with most of their drinks.
I love the culture of Pixie Mate, and I feel they have a very strong future in the Mate game. I am very excited to taste their Juicy Mate in the future, as well as the Mate Chai(review up soon).

Thanks again PIXIE MATE & 3RD STREET CHAI

Check out their sites at:

http://pixiemate.com/

www.3rdstreetchai.com

Guayusa? What is this?

2010-10-09T17:44:00.001-07:00

Does anyone know what this is? Please write us at: sean@shadetreemate.com with more info. I want to review, and hear others thoughts on it.

Shade Tree Mate Supports Ted Turner & Sally Ranney

2010-10-05T17:27:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years, before returning north, Sally lived off grid in Argentina and Patagonia, on the vast estate of the owner of a Yerba Mate tea company. Not the typical lifestyle for an American-style "celebrity," but all the makings of a perfect sidekick for the largest individual landowner in North America, Ted Turner.

Go Sally!

Guayaki going Rogue! (Opinion Poll!)

2010-09-29T19:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-29/guayaki-wants-to-take-yerba-mate-from-niche-to-7-eleven-staple.html

poll by twiigs.com

Clinton Reps Yerba Mate! (1 of 7 Green Companies)

2010-09-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/09/7-best-green-initiatives-bill-clinton-2010-summit.php

Ecoteas gearing for new look!

2010-09-23T18:56:00.000-07:00
http://www.ketzia.com/

I like the look, looks a bit Shade Tree like....

www.shadetreemate.com

Guayaki RECOGNIZED! (Mate makin moves!)

2010-09-23T18:43:00.000-07:00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT9LDPsINK0&feature=youtu.be

Blowin up!

Jones Soda Opens a Can of WhoopAss!

2010-09-21T16:23:00.000-07:00
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/update-jones-soda-co-opens-new-can-of-whoopasstm-2010-09-21?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Jones stepping into the Mate game!

Guayaki Doing Big Things!

2010-09-21T16:19:00.000-07:00
Although their loose leaf, and actual tea is not my cup of tea. I enjoy their Juicy Mate, and I love their business model.

Please check for them at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting on Thursday.

Although they will not answer my phone calls or emails, I will still support their Yerba Mate game.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/guayaki-yerba-mate-highlighted-at-clinton-global-initiative-annual-meeting-103463369.html

Better late than never

2010-09-17T20:14:00.000-07:00
Shade Tree would just like to commemorate this video's greatness. We usually never digress from Mate, but I figured Mate has the goal of getting people to be as excited as this man

Great Article about good things EcoTeas does

2010-09-15T15:06:00.000-07:00
In Partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, EcoTeas Supports Clean Water for Tea, and Salmon Too! – Press Releases on CSRwire.com

"Any tea drinker will tell you that clean water is an essential ingredient for brewing a perfect cup of tea. EcoTeas, an organic and fair trade tea company from Ashland, Oregon, has taken the concept of clean water to a new level: for every ounce of water that one of their customers uses to brew tea, they work in partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) to put an ounce of water back into Evans Creek, an important habitat for salmon in southern Oregon''..."

Despite my thoughts on EcoTeas flavor, this is very promising

Encouraging Blog Post about Mate

2010-09-15T14:59:00.000-07:00
Cork Student News

Shade Tree Mate has Moved to Denver!

2010-09-10T13:29:00.000-07:00
I have moved to Denver for the time being.

Hit me up for your Yerba Mate needs at: sean@shadetreemate.com

How Mate Improves Road-Trips

2010-09-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

+

=

Makes a much better lonely roadtrip when you can put it in any possible Mid-West truckstop energy drink/fast-food

Enjoy

Grapefruit Gourd!!!

2010-09-08T19:02:00.000-07:00

In weird order, but it was probably the most pleasant gourd experiences I have ever had.

All should try, for exact description, questions, comments, write in the comment section and I can answer anything.

Thanks Employee Kate

Go Mate'!

Interview went Great!

2010-08-29T17:58:00.000-07:00
Thanks Todd, Rachel, and Nate

Interview went great, very informative and inspiring!

Check out more of these guys at

www.OregonYerbaMate.Com
or
www.blogtalkradio.com/yerba

Check out this site as well!

2010-08-29T17:57:00.001-07:00

Click here to visit YerbaMate.us

Mate Factor Video

2010-08-27T13:29:00.000-07:00
Worked with the Mate Factor people for the last month or so, and thought I'd make them a funny video before I left.

I hope you all enjoy, check out their great tasting Mate at:

Sorry for the curse words all, I am working on it.

If you gonna buy Mate, why not through Shade Tree Mate

2010-08-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

Just Click from this link, and Shade Tree will stay open for you guys.

Mate Factor video coming soon

Who created Shade Tree Logo

2010-08-23T11:35:00.000-07:00
http://unclegrumpyinc.blogspot.com/

Creator of the Shade Tree Mate Logo.

This is his portfolio.

Many thanks to Mat

Blog Interview has Changed to August 29th at 10AM

2010-08-23T11:34:00.000-07:00
Same location as before.

Sorry all

Listen Up to Blog Talk Radio on August 22nd 10AM

2010-08-16T17:39:00.000-07:00
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yerba

10AM Oregon Time, I will be talking with Rachel & Nate Winkler about Yerba Mate and all aspects of it.

Illex Tree Update

2010-08-06T14:07:00.001-07:00
Illex Tree Update!

3 Months in!

www.Logees.com

How to Make Yerba Mate Beer Mustard From Employee: YANA

2010-08-05T19:09:00.000-07:00
Employee of Shade Tree Mate, Yana Velasquez made up this great recipe for Yerba Mate Beer Mustard. We asked Yana to write up her great recipe for us, for all to enjoy. Go Shade Tree Yerba Mate!

Ingredients
1 cup yellow and brown mustard seeds
2 cups Shade Tree Mate Beer (or Mateveza)
1 1/3 cups apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon curry spice
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/4 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon granulated garlic
2 tablespoons horseradish

Directions
Yana says, In a small bowl combine the mustard seeds, Shade Tree Beer, and apple cider vinegar. Cover and soak overnight.

Strain the liquid and reserve in a separate container. Place the soaked seeds in a food processor and pulse 7 to 8 times.

Fill a medium saucepan with an inch or two of water; heat over medium heat so that it is barely bubbling. then grab a heatproof bowl; place it over the saucepan to create a double boiler. In the double boiler, place the cracked seeds and add the strained liquid, allspice, pepper, salt, sugar, dry mustard, garlic, and horseradish. Cook about 90 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool, then refrigerate overnight.

enjoy!

Yerba Mate questions I need some clarification on.

2010-08-02T15:23:00.000-07:00
A friend questioned me about some Yerba Mate info, and it made me realize that I would love someone to hit me up with some Mate facts.

I am doing a radio show on August 22nd, and would love some help, I will hit you all up with the listening details as they come to me.

Heres the questions if you would like to comment and help out.

1.Mateine, What is it, is it real, etc?
2.How alkaline is Mate, any info on this would help?
3.Some differences between shade grown and clear cut?

Wondering Where to Buy Yerba Mate?!

2010-08-02T15:05:00.000-07:00
Check out who Shade Tree Supports:

http://www.shadetreemate.com/products.html

!!!

MateFactor.Com (coming soon)

2010-07-26T17:33:00.000-07:00

I am here at Mate Factor! (www.matefactor.com)

Pictures and sampling info to come!

Also stay tuned for Shade Tree Mate interview(I will keep you updated)

July is Mateveza Month!

2010-07-26T15:59:00.000-07:00
Hurry!

http://www.drinkbiere.com/

Shade Tree Beer Logistics

2010-07-17T01:02:00.000-07:00
For all that have seen...: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqBqjXqg-dY
..and are wondering how to do it yourself, here are the logistics. While brewing you will understand this lingo for beginners:
1. While wort cooled, we soaked 4 cups of mate for 5 gallons of beer for about 25 minutes.

Thats it.
Also check this video out if you would like to help finance Shade Tree Yerba Mate
as a blog and site:

And check out !Mammoth Torta! as soon as possible in a town near you: http://www.myspace.com/mammothtorta

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Submission - Shade Tree Yerba Mate Style

2010-07-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

We tried our first brewing experience with some Yerba Mate infused in there.
Just like Mateveza's Beer that infuses Yerba Mate, Shade Tree Beer has done the same.
I made a quick 2 minute submission video for Sierra Nevada's Beer Camp just to see if I could somehow get in there.
Enjoy!

Yerba Mate Lip Balm (Save Your World)

2010-07-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

As I am now the "guy who likes everything Mate" in my group of friends, I was told randomly from a buyer at a Natural Foods store about Yerba Mate Lip Balm.

I have heard of products, soaps, shampoo, etc with Yerba in them but have not gotten a chance to use them. I have never really used lip balm in my entire life, have never needed it, or never really enjoyed it.

This was pretty much the same, although I applied it frequently for two days and it suprisingly helped me with a four hour drive in which I was very sleepy going into.

Save Your World sells it: http://store.saveyourworld.com/

Looking further into their products, I was sold on everything Save Your World. Every Product has Yerba Mate in it. I thouroughly looked through the site and loved their thoughts on business and it seemed as if they were genuine in their passion to help people, and the world while succeeding in business.

I am definitly going to check out more of their products.

Thanks Save Your World for putting out responsible products!

http://store.saveyourworld.com/Default.asp?Redirected=Y

Grow a Tree - Ilex paraguayensis

2010-06-21T13:03:00.000-07:00
On May 26th of this year, I went to:
http://www.logees.com/prodinfo.asp?number=H8095-2
We bought a Yerba Mate tree from Connecticut. I have no idea how either of these plants will turn out. These pictures were taken two weeks in.
The hardy zone for a Yerba Mate plant is 10, and requires humidity, iron enriched soil, and usually elevation of 1,500 feet plus.
We are givng the plant a hardy zone of 9, dry air, screws in the soil for iron, and an elevation of practically zero. It is near a manmade lake though.
We will see.
Check out Logee's for various tropical plants:
http://www.logees.com/prodinfo.asp?number=H8095-2

Yerba Mate Chicken (Recipe)

2010-06-15T23:20:00.001-07:00
Here is a picture Timeline of how we made the Yerba Mate Chicken. Take note of the gravy that turns green over night!
I suggest House Blend Oregon Yerba Mate and Mateveza Golden Ale for a true Yerba Mate Chicken recipe!

Have fun!

Recipe Follows:

Mate Chicken Recipe
Fresh Chicken

12 oz MateVeza Golden Ale
1 cup strongly brewed Mate
1 tsp Rosemary
½ an Onion (Red)
1 tsp Stoneground mustard
1-2 Cloves of Garlic
-Marinade all together in bag for 30 minutes
-Bake/Roast Chicken for 20mins per lb of Chicken (varies, keep checking periodically)

Oregon Yerba Mate Sampling!

2010-06-08T23:30:00.001-07:00

Nathaniel Winkler and I have been talking back and forth about me selling his Yerba Mate. I have been looking at Oregon Yerba Mate for a little while, and when he sent me some samples to see what I thought, I jumped at the chance. I love his site: http://www.oregonyerbamate.com/ and you should all check it out.
Follows is my assessment of his 6 different blends (My allergies were acting up so so taste buds were a bit funkified)
Einstein Blend:
Described by the site to have Ginko Biloba and Ginseng. Considered number two best seller by OregonYerbaMate.com and states that it tastes like regulary mate.
My first thoughts in bullet point:
-Interesting smell
-Smooth taste
-Good with Honey
-Leaves taste in mouth for a bit (different than traditional blends)
-Taste stays with you
-Overall great taste just as I will discuss with the house blend, but with a great idea with the Ginko Biloba that really helps Mental Clarity.
House Blend:
Described by site to be the full bodied blend imported from Argentina & Brazil. My thoughts follow:
-Stems give an initial bitter taste as most "con palo" blends
-Tasty
-Second time trying, and is still a very good blend
-As I drink it not very bitter like most “con palo” mate, with great drinkability.
Performance Blend:
Desribed as their number one seller. Proven to reduce lactic acid and improve performance through the use of their added herbs such as; Damina, Maca, Ginseng, and others.
My thoughts:
-Crazy looking blend
-Enjoyed the smell and the look of the dry mate
-Very smooth
-Tasty
-Not very distinctive though, tastes just like the house blend which is not a bad thing.
-Love the idea of a performance blend. Distinguishes them from any other brand.
Healing Blend:
Described to help with digestion, circulation, and the immune system by using cayenne, mint and cinnamon/ My thoughts follow:
-Inhaled while sediments were billowing out of my french press and burnt my nose, sneezed almost 15 times.
-Helped allergies, but nose burnt a bit. WOW Careful smelling!
-Strong smell when brewed as well
-Crazy taste: Spicy
-Least mate influenced
-Crazy flavors, loved idea
-Great idea when sick
-Supplement with water when sick and you will be out of bed in no time
-Got tastier as I drank it
-Great morning wake up
-Even crazier with honey
-Must be very hot for it to be tasty. When sampling, I loved it when it was most hot. Not as tasty when luke temperature.
Zen Blend:
Described as an evening Mate tea with Kava Kava, Chamemile, and Lavendar. My thoughts follow:
-Smells predominantly like Kava
-Tastes a lot like Kava with mate undertones
-Balances both very well
-Accidently left this bag in car (very hot) which makes smell funky (beware)
-Very smooth and tasty
-Kava hint is awesome
-Relaxed after all the mate I had sampled
-Kind of funky with honey though.
-LOVED THIS IDEA AND EXECUTION. As a Kava drinker myself, Oregon Yerba Mate did a great job introducing Kava to mate without leaving one or the other out.
Chai Blend:
Described as traditional chai but with mate as the base instead of black tea.
Sampled with my girlfriend Kate, our opinions will be serperate:
Kate: (I took notes as she sampled)
-Mild chai flavor
-Good traditional mate with Chai notes on way out.
-Earthy chai smell: Pleasant
“Was exactly what I’d want from Chai Mate”
9 out of 10
Sean:
-Too bitter at first
-More sips became smooth
-Most chai blends too much chai, but this one made mate big player which I love because I love mate of course.
-Smells strong, almost too much when dry, could have been me leaving it accidently in my car for a day. Loved this taste, didn't get a chance with milk and honey but I can bet it would be amazing
9 out of 10
After this sampling I had dranken way too much mate for anybodys good. I was suprisingly a mellow jacked but productive. I was not jittery, or sick of the mate.
I recommend Oregon Yerba Mate, and you can Purchase it at:
http://www.oregonyerbamate.com/
Thanks Nate!