Top Yerba Mate Tea Brands: Sipping South America's Finest

Yerba mate tea has gained immense popularity worldwide due to its unique flavor and numerous health benefits, making it a favorite among tea enthusiasts. Renowned for providing a natural energy boost and packed with antioxidants, many are turning to this South American staple as an alternative to coffee. With an ever-increasing number of brands entering the market, choosing the best one can be overwhelming. To help you navigate the world of yerba mate, we've compiled a list of the top brands known for quality and taste that you can explore below.

Illustration of yerba mate tea

Best brands of yerba mate tea in 2025

Guayaki

Guayakí, founded in 1996, is a leading organic yerba mate producer with an 86% market share, offering a variety of products including loose-leaf, canned, and carbonated drinks, and they are committed to regenerative practices; in 2023, over 99% of their yerba mate was shade-grown, with more than 80% harvested from Regenerative Organic Certified producers, all while empowering indigenous communities and creating jobs, which is a part of their "Market Driven Regeneration" model. Furthermore, Guayakí is the first yerba mate company to achieve biodynamic certification, emphasizing their dedication to both quality and environmental responsibility. With a focus on sustainability, they ensure their yerba mate is air-dried, smoke-free, and safe from PAHs. Their products are available in over 10,000 stores nationwide, as well as online. To learn more, visit their official website.

Cruz de Malta

Cruz de Malta, established in 1874, is a leading Argentinian yerba mate brand, known for its authentic flavor and quality achieved through a meticulous harvesting, selection, and aging process of the leaves. As a traditional yerba mate with a smooth and aromatic taste, containing very little dust, it becomes a popular choice for both beginners and experienced mate drinkers. Cruz de Malta is among the top yerba mate producers with a significant market share in Argentina. For more details, visit their official website.

Amanda

Amanda, a renowned yerba mate producer with over 90 years of experience since its founding by Polish immigrants in the Misiones region of Argentina in the early 1900s, is celebrated for its traditional production methods, selecting the finest leaves and stems and is one of the most popular brands in Argentina, offering a classic, smooth flavor, and provides a gluten-free option, while maintaining ecological balance by using only organic fertilizers on their plantations. You can find their products at: Amanda's official website.

Rosamonte

Rosamonte, established in 1936 in Argentina, is a family-run business that has grown to become one of the largest yerba mate producers, utilizing a unique "barbacua" open-fire drying method, aging their yerba for 12-24 months and achieving a market share of 10.2% in Argentina, recognized for its traditional and robust flavor profile; they offer a variety of products, including traditional, mild, and premium yerba mate and also have a significant presence in the global market. The yerba mate market was valued at $1.8 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $2.9 billion by 2032. You can explore their products.

Taragüi

Taragüi, established in 1924 by Establecimiento Las Marías, is a leading Argentinian yerba mate brand, cultivated in Corrientes, known for its intense flavor and aroma, with production exceeding 60,000 tons annually. It is the first and only Argentine yerba mate verified to be free of carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), and some varieties, like Energia, contain up to 30% more natural xanthines for an energy boost. Explore their products for more information.

Playadito

Playadito, an Argentinian yerba mate brand established in 1932, is produced by the Liebig Cooperative, which was founded in 1926 by German immigrants, and currently boasts a yearly production of 36 million kilograms; Playadito is known for its smooth, mild flavor, and its production includes a careful selection of leaves, a three-part heating drying process, and a minimum of 12 months of seasoning. In 2018, the cooperative held a 12% market share of the yerba mate market in Argentina, and the brand is now exported to Asia, Europe, and Oceania, with China being one of its main markets. Discover more about Playadito yerba mate.

Canarias

Canarias, a leading yerba mate brand in Uruguay, sources its leaves from Brazil, particularly the states of Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul, and is known for its finely ground leaves with at most 1.5% of sticks, resulting in a strong, bitter, and intense flavor profile that is achieved through a 4 to 6 month aging process, making it a 100% natural product without artificial additives. It is considered one of the most popular brands, offering a unique yerba mate experience. For more information, visit the Canarias website.

La Merced

La Merced, a high-end yerba mate brand from Argentinian producer Las Marias since 1924, offers premium blends from Misiones with a rich, mineral-heavy soil, ensuring high quality and antioxidant content, often aged for 12 months. La Merced also provides Campo Sur, a softer blend from the southernmost plantations of the Corrientes province, known for its smooth and delicate flavor. Their products, packaged in foil bags and presentation boxes, are available at Urushop and other retailers.

Kraus

Kraus, an Argentinian family business since 1894, is a highly-regarded yerba mate producer, specializing in organic and fair-trade practices, using a unique hot-water drying process instead of smoke, which results in a smoother, less bitter flavor with a high caffeine content of 262mg per 50g serving, and is certified organic with no herbicides, pesticides or artificial fertilizers; their sustainable approach includes reforestation and biodiversity, making it a favorite among both beginners and seasoned yerba mate drinkers. You can find more about their products on their website: Kraus yerba mate.

CBSe

Established in 1978 in Argentina, CBSé is a leading yerba mate producer, renowned for pioneering the "yerba mate compuesta" by blending yerba mate with various herbs, offering a diverse range of flavors, including their popular "Hierbas Serranas" and "Guaraná" varieties, and currently holding the third position in the national market with 22 million kilos sold in supermarkets. CBSé's innovative approach extends to flavored yerba mate, such as orange, lemon, and coffee, and they also offer unique mixes like "Hierbas Cuyanas" with boldo, melissa, and fennel, demonstrating their commitment to quality by earning ISO 9001-2000 certification that allowed them to export to several countries, including the USA and Spain. For more detailed information, visit their official website.