Guayaki Yerba Mate profile picture

Guayaki Yerba Mate

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me

It was at Cal Poly University, in San Luis Obispo, California, that the founders of Guayaki first met. Alex Pryor, from Argentina and David Karr, from California, quickly became friends as they sipped mate. The energy of the mate captivated them both and a vision crystallized: to create a new restorative business model.Rainforest mate would be the new currency fueling reforestation projects and providing income for the indigenous people. The vision became a passion which grew into a business. The business would bring the legendary mate to the world at a time when people were thirsty for a health energy beverage. This business would inspire the hearts of people worldwide to believe that business can go beyond profits, that it can drive positive social and environmental change.Alex came to California to attend Cal Poly and study food science. After several years in the States, he came to realize that North Americans were consuming tremendous amounts of coffee to sustain their fast paced lives. Knowing the energizing and rejuvenative effects of mate, Alex believed many would come to adore his national drink. At the same time, Alex identified a convergence of times people were discovering green tea's health properties, hearing more about the destruction of the rainforest and about the plight of the native forest peoples. Everything continued to point to a business involving rainforest mate.Alex also noticed that everyday people are bombarded with negative news weighing on the spirit. People need to hear a positive story, he thought. David, a business major, had traveled to Europe for two years after becoming disillusioned with American big business methods and what felt like a hopeless environment for sustainable businesses.

Myspace Layouts at Pimp-My-Profile.com / Greens Have It

My Interests

Reforestation!!!Uniquely grown it its native forest environment, Guayaki Yerba Mate is cherished as a sacred beverage. Like high quality coffee, high quality mate is shade-grown, in the rich ecosystem of the rainforest; delivering more flavor and nutritional value. Sheltered from direct sunlight, rainforest grown yerba mate leaves are dark, emerald green and teeming with nutrients and flavor.Guayaki Yerba Mate is a work of art. Crafted like a fine wine, it is grown, harvested, and dried according to time €“ honored traditions. Harvested from the lush subtropical forest, Guayaki hand-picks only the leaves and tender stems. After passing through a flash heating process to protect the antioxidants and nutritional properties, the mate is wood-dried at low-temperature for 24-hours to yield the characteristic €œwoodsy€? Guayaki flavor. Finally, the mate is aged for one year in cedar chambers for a smooth, rich and balanced flavor.To create Guayaki€™s Yerba Mate, the €œwhole plant - whole energy€? approach is used, combining the leaves and tender stems to produce a beverage with unique flavor and balanced energy.

Movies:

Green Festival- Interview with Guayaki Yerba Mate



Green Festival Washington DC October 14th - 15th 2006 www.greenfestivals.org FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY Green Festival is a Joint Project of: Coop America www.coopamerica.org & Global Exchange www.globalexchange.org www.earthsite.net www.eyedealproductions.com

Heroes:

Yerba Mate Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is a small tree native to the subtropical Atlantic forests of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. This evergreen member of the holly family was introduced to modern civilizations by the indigenous Guarani of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. An infusion, brewed from the dried leaves and stems of the tree, is consumed by millions of South Americans as a healthful alternative to coffee. Deemed €œThe Drink of the Gods€? by many indigenous groups in South America and €œthe green gold of the Indios€? by Europeans, yerba mate possesses a multitude of health benefits that have begun to attract the attention of American scientists and consumers.Yerba mate was discovered centuries ago by the indigenous people in South America and has been revered as the €œdrink of the gods€? and consumed to enhance health, vitality, and longevity. With 24 vitamins and minerals, 15 amino acids, abundant antioxidants and naturally occurring caffeine, yerba mate triumphs as nature€™s most balanced stimulant.Of the six commonly used stimulants in the world: yerba mate, coffee, tea, kola nut, cocoa, and guarana, yerba mate is the healthiest, delivering both energy and nutrition.Yerba mate, is a shade subtropical. Like high quality coffee, high quality mate is shade-grown; delivering more flavor and containing more medicinal and nutritional properties than the commercially grown, sun farmed varieties. It thrives in its natural rainforest environment located between the 10th and 30th parallels, in high humidity with up to 1500 mm of annual rainfall.How is Yerba Mate Grown? In the wild, the tree needs about 25 years to develop completely, reaching a height of up to 15 meters. When cultivated, the mate trees are pruned to a height of 3-5 meters to allow for harvesting. The harvesting (or careful pruning) of the leaves and tender stems begins after 3-4 years of age. Harvest takes place annually between May and July in most regions. At maturity, yerba mate has a unique bittersweet flavor. The tree can produce for about 40 years making it a perfect crop when sustainably harvested.

My Blog

Invitation to all Guayaki Retailers

If you retail Guayaki Yerba Mate in your shop and would like to be listed in our online retailers directory please drop us a line. I am working to increase the usability of that function on our websi...
Posted by Guayaki Yerba Mate on Thu, 23 Aug 2007 11:23:00 PST

Competitor So-Cal Online Magazine Article

Healthy Ways to Fuel Your Body If you care about the fuel you put in your body when you're exercising, read on.    Organic Fitness Fuel .. If you care about the fuel you put in your body...
Posted by Guayaki Yerba Mate on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 01:07:00 PST

University Chic Product Review: Guayaki Yerba Mate

By Kathryn Lewis Created 08/02/2007 - 7:36pm Guayaki Yerba Mate Energy Drinks aren't the average energy drink. They're organic drinks that do more than boost your energy; they give you the vitamin...
Posted by Guayaki Yerba Mate on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 01:04:00 PST

Beverage Reviews - Drink Up! Guayaki Yerba Mate Review

Drink Up! Guayaki Yerba Mate Review. Published by Mike at June 25, 2007 in Beverage Reviews. Guayaki pronounced Gwy-u...
Posted by Guayaki Yerba Mate on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 03:24:00 PST

Tuscon Citizen - On The Shelf

   ON THE SHELF ..> Coffee alternative purely stimulating   Yerba mate, popular in Latin and South America, has made headway in the United States over the past several years as a c...
Posted by Guayaki Yerba Mate on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 01:24:00 PST

I love this stuff

I just sipped a gourd this morning, and I feel wonderful. All of my senses are acute, and my brain is sharp. How did nature create such a thing? Thank you so much!!
Posted by Guayaki Yerba Mate on Thu, 15 Jun 2006 03:08:00 PST