Drink Renewable Forest Energy!
As we start the summer there have already been some momentous moments to look back upon these past few weeks. The Mid-Summer Harvest Arrived.
We celebrated a Mate Mundial in Berlin (parallel to the „official Mundial de la Yerba Mate“ where our moonshine mate makers Family Fonseca and Bolzani where honoured).
We have already enjoyed several rounds of Tastings, Tereres & Meta Moments and look forward to serving many mates this summer.
Let’s Make Forests Great Again.
We were pleased to participate in the Amazon Week in Berlin at the Brasilian Embassy on 1 & 2 June. Following past years which highlighted indigenous activism and preparations for the COP 30, This year’s edition was focused on the promotion of the region’s Bio Economy.
BioEconomy, can those two words be used together or is that an Oxymoron? Sometimes talks about sustainable bio-economical development in the Amazons seems like rhetoric. No one raised the question how we could sit behind closed doors in the Brasilianische Botschaft in Berlin planning the ‚future of the forest‘ and promotion of products from the bio-economy without considering the cultures who enrich this biodiversity.
According to an article about Greenwashing in the Amazon Atlas from the Boell Stiftung,
When nature is transformed into a financial asset, the impacts of this economic deicide go beyond the availability of natural resources or even its conception of a sanctuary.
How do we live in harmony with nature fostering bio diversity yet meet growing market demands?
We shared our experiences with making a market for sustainably sourced Mate in Berlin on a Panel about The German market: Consumer Demand and Industrial Applications
We work with products from the Atlantic Forest. Not the Amazon Biome. However, there are many learnings that one could take from this. In the past 15 years we have seen a huge growth in the demand from forest origin mate in Germany in a niche market that was dominated by Argentinean monoculture.
Although we have not been able to stop the encroachment of the Soya monocultures in the region yet, it is promising to see how it is possible to raise consumer consciousness and offer them the opportunity to support sustainable sourcing with the purchase.
Brasil benefits because it still has the largest amount of native Mate Forests in Parana and producers were quick to catch onto the international market demands with certifications (though the process is complicated and mostly benefits large producers)
It was a big victory for the Brasilian Mate Sector in May 2025 to be recognised by the United Nation’s Food & Agriculture Organisation as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System that keeps forests alive. We hope that this will encourage small producers to maintain their practice, but we do know the challenges they face, especially in the state of Rio Grade do Sul, where native forests are nearly non-existent in a landscape of soya and eucalyptus monocultures.
There was not much awareness or support from Brasilian Bodies when we started. We had to do studies, tests and work through certifications with producers.
Being in close contact with our producers and having mutual respect for one another and agreeing on quantities and price have been key in our path.
Opening up the market was not easy, mate is still a niche, but we hope as mate gets more popular there will be more awareness raised.
We benefited from being pioneers; by not only focusing on Mate as a raw ingredient but also as a lifestyle.
The Mateverse made its reappearance in the Republica 26 Conference in Berlin from 18-20 May. Hosted by the Global Innovations Gathering’s MakerSpace, we kept the Mate flowing for 3 days allowing visitors to try mate for the first time, or just learn about it.
. There is always so much to see at this large gathering of “digital society” with many talks and meetups taking place and many were grateful to have a cuppa fresh forest energy to soothe the soul, rehydmate and help focus. Such grassroots acts by showing mates presence at events like these are vital to spreading the message.
You are never alone with a good mate
Yet the ritual of drinking mate as a community in today’s modern age seems as archaic as the tribal roots from which it originates. We no longer live in the forests and our DNA is somewhat diverse. It seems fitting that in today’s individualistic modern world scarred with social distancing that the notion of to each his own can also be celebrated in a communal way.
With the MateVerse we intervene to offer the tools to engage in a meta moment with a good mate.
In a world where we prefer to hide behind aliases and avatars to express our opinions online, many are forgetting what it is like to sit down with someone in an open end conversation.
Sharing a warm drink in an intimate circle can facilitate group resonance or enable deep exchange.
We are increasingly disconnected from each other in our social platforms yet we cannot let go of all hope.
We invite you to Mate on a Meta level at the Re:publica 26. Let’s sit down together and resonate with each other and create a circular conversation.
Join Mate Fans in Berlin on Sun. 7th June at 2pm at Meta Mate Berlin for a Meet & Greet. While South American Sports fans are preparing to watch a ball being kicked around for the next month, the Mate world has also decided to engage in the games and competition.
As we gear up for a Summer of many Mates, Terere, & Brausen in Berlin, Buenos Aires will play host from 5 -7 June to the first ever international Mate Competition. Mate Producers & Accessory Artisans from Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay & Uruguay will gather together for a weekend with a jury of sommeliers and mate enthusiasts to evaluate their favourite brews.
The South American version, similar to the other World Cup, has a slight competitive edge with Mate Makers vying for various titles. Parallel to the South American „Mate Competition“ MetaMateBerlin will host a Mundial do Mate, sharing fresh forest harvested Mates from the Mata Atlantica. It will be an opportunity for Mate enthusiasts to gather, meet others, share some of our new harvest and learn more about the regional differences in mate culture.
The fact that the Argentinean national football team is officially sponsored by Canarias Mate, an Uruguayan brand that sources its Ilex paraguariensis leaves from Brasil bruised patriotic egos in a nation that prides itself as being the propogators of international Mate Culture.
Over the past decades, Argentina has been highly successful in marketing Yerba Mate as being something Argentinean. However, Mate drinking culture extends beyond the political borders of the La Plata Region. It is slowly making the move from being an insiders tip to a globalised beverage following in the footsteps of coffee and tea.
2pm Opening Round with a brief introduction explaning the differences between Erva / Yerba & Mate Tee, in traditional cultural contexts vs. local. The importance of sustainable sourcing and traditional vs. modern processing practices.
3pm. Mate Etiquette– Values of inclusion, communication, friendship and sharing in a non-commercial context.
3.30pm….Time for Terere Let’s put some fizz into this round…..a short diving into the history of Germany’s Mate Limo Culture.
4pm – The basics – Learn about some of the Mate drinking utensils, from traditional to new innovations.
4.30pm onwards Online Dating Mating Offline. The idea of this event is to bring mate enthusiasts together in real life to exchange experiences and share mate making antidotes. The above mentioned program only serves as a guideline.
Cleansing and Fasting with Fresh Forest Energy.
Systems are disintegrating across the planet. As we lose our traditions and melt into a globalised world we are constantly being sold the latest super solution to solve all of our problems.
Today the environment we live in is far more loaded with toxins and chemicals than in the past. This combined with the accelerated lifestyles that we lead, is a direct cause in the increased rates of burnouts and diseases that are affected our society.
This toxic overload limits our quality of life, downgrades our health and the current plethora of health epidemics is a testament to the consequences of modern life gone awry.
There are simple rituals that we can integrate into our regular routines to help us dive deep into an internal process that initiates profound healing throughout the entire body & soul.
Drinking mate on a daily basis might just be a placebo to make you sit down for a moment and drink lots of warm water…..over the centruries it has stood the test of time….
Water is Life. Water is essential for Life and it is important to drink it in abundance to stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water helps your kidneys and liver to eliminate toxins
Detoxing with Mate gives you
More Energy and Vitality. Less Stress. Weightloss. Improved circulation. . Stronger Digestion & Less unhealthy food cravings. Mental clarity and heightened alertness. Boosts your immunity and provides you with an inner calmness
Enhance your experience by
Moving your Body…..Soaking in Sun….Laugh Play Sing Be Wild and Free-spirited….Rest Relax Meditate…….And don’t forget to Breathe…..
Gemeinsam Achtsamkeit mit Grüne Energie
In this modern individualistic society scarred by social distancing, Mate drinking can facilitate a communal setting rooted in the commons. The ritual of sitting in a circle can facilitate group resonance and enable deep exchange. The caffeine and theobromine content in the mate encourages communication.
Most of us are familiar with the usage of substances to help us function and turn off from the daily drone of life. Sugar is one of the most common legal drugs infused into almost all processed meals. Despite numerous studies demonstrating the dangers, we continue to fill our stomach with processed foods laced with poisons and pesticides.
Some turn to alcohol as a way of numbing their frustrations or pain, whether the social “Feierabend bierchen” that was normalised in Germany, or the artist drawing creative inspiration from a bottle of wine. While the pharmaceutical industry reaps in profits for the remedies that doctors prescribe, recreational drugs are celebrated by the free-spirited party culture, and others search for stronger substances to escape reality.
Energy is a necessary part of life, required to sustain and it flows through all societies. There are many forms of energy. Good energy, bad energy, energy drinks, caffeine. Coffee is something that is consumed across the world as a form of energy while others soothe their souls with a cup of tea. Some people prefer cola or energy drinks. Sustainable energy this is something that the activists and politicians like to talk a lot about. Everything these days should be green i.e. greenwashing.
A long time ago people used to live in the forests somewhat in harmony with nature. Perhaps not as peacefully as we romanticize but there was magic, and people interacted with all life in their environments. There was no need to go to a supermarket to buy anything, there was no concept of working for money to have free time.
Time was measured in another way back then. Perhaps more in rhythm with the natural daylight patterns – electricity was something fully unknown – today we are unable to live without it. Back then there were rituals to pass the time, to connect, to sustain and nourish. Many of these ancient rituals, have been obliterated over the centuries and we will never know of them; there are so many secrets of the past that have been forgotten
But some of these rituals survived. Such as the ceremonial sharing of drinking mate in a circle According to legends, the forest spirits provided a enriching bitter brew to provide strength and endurance to the people. The fresh forest energy contained in Mate is has been incorporated in our modern society by athletes and priests who praise this compassionate communitarian drink.
You are never alone with a Good Mate. Gen Z is feeling the pressure of this artificial world, it is eroding their soul. Instead of slowing our pace, stilling our spirit and connecting on a human personal level, performance enhancement is considered a key factor to success. We are missing the process of our creativity and younger generations are losing the resilience to tolerate pain.
We invite you to sit down and mate and reflect on some of these themes and more importantly to listen to our inner voices and understand what our roles in this world are.
A decade ago when we were confronted with situations of sharing Mate outdoors in the cold German winters we took on the task of finding a reliable partner to serve the water.
In South Brasil, Termolar has been catering to the Mate Market for many decades with their innovative easy-to-serve spouts that allow Uruguayan’s to drink and drive.
This woman-run family-owned company has perfected the art of manufacturing thermoses that hold the water temperature hot for hours so that a mate circle could be enjoyed outdoors in European Winters.
Long before Messi became a Mascot for Stanley sipping out of a Baby-Blue-Bottle, South Americans were sitting around the fireplace sharing a gourd and serving Mate from a Kettle. The innovation of the Thermos made it possible for Mate to become mobile and adapt into an ecological & economic to-go beverage for groups to enjoy by sunsets in parks.
Drinking Mate can be compared to a F**tball Team….all members need to be in top form to ensure excellent performance. It does not help if you have an excellent quality of handmade leaves harvested by full moon and fine filtration inox bombas with premium mouthpieces if your water is cold.
Fair Trust : we recently had a webinar with Termolar to learn more about their production.
In recent years the market has been flooded with cheaper imitations from China and it was important for us to learn more about the differences.
Some years ago Stanley launched a stylish Mate Set popularising stainless steel Mate Cups that can be screwed on for compact transportation.
What they failed to realise is that the Metal Mates retain temperature for longer than necessary and this does affect the flavor. Indigenous philosophies go as far as to say that metal removes the healing properties from the leaves.
One of the benefits to transporting the Termolar Flask is that the sturdy handle allows it to be hooked onto bellts and bags so that your hands are free to hold the mate.
In an effort to promote the product we do offer special discounts for students and those on a budget. And while we realise that the Termolars are priced higher than many Thermoses, they are still a quarter of the price of the competition.
During the Mate Congress held in Berlin in March 2025 it was unanimously agreed that the indigenous narrative is often left out of the Mate Industry, especially in its land of origin. In an effort to counterbalance this and pay homage to the Guarani origins of Ka´a Meta Mate initiated a reforestation project bringing saplings from Machadinho Moonshine Mate producers to a community in Pico do Jaragua
Thanks to the Escola de Cuidado for overseeing this project and Fabi Loyola for the video documentation, Fabricio do Canto for his persistence & Marcio from the Mba Guarani Community for caring for the culture and Kaá
On Sunday we will be hosting a Mate Circle at the Zukunfts(T)Raum from 12-3pm. This is an open call out for Materos to join, bring your cups and thermoses with to facilitate the sharing, we will have mate. 🌿
The Zukunfts(T)Raum – futuredream + futurespace – is a brand-new area within Berlin’s Carnival of Cultures carried forward by a growing community of dreamers and doers.
This space is our collective response to a world in flux – a public living room where people can slow down, connect deeply, and build bridges across generations, backgrounds, and perspectives.
It’s a place for civic imagination, cultural resistance, and gentle transformation.
We’re here for futures where humanity and the planet can thrive together.
For centuries the Atlantic Forest was treated as an inexhaustible commodity well and forcibly integrated into the global economy as a peripheral supplier of raw materials.
The colonial mindset endures, merely modernised: extractive industries still erase forests peoples and devalue local knowledge. Commodities like Mate leave the Mata Atlantic bearing international labels – stripped of territorial identity and divorced from the ancestral practices that sustain them.
(Instituto Aupaba)
This extractive logic benefits few and jeopardises many. It concentrates wealth, creates deep inequalities, and weakens local economies that remain on the margins of the global value chains. .
Mate is consumed in the creative circles of the global north in a bubbly bottled form without paying tribute to its origins.
It is our mission to continue to offer people a chance to come into contact with the drink of the commons in as much of a non-commercial way as possible in the capitalistic system.
This is why we offer DIY Mate making stations at events such as Karneval or Republica.
Wir müssen es ausbaden……A play on words with a gift of green washing.
But jokes aside, we are paying the price for a capitalistic commercial system that makes it very difficult for small independent producers to sustain themselves from their Craft.
The Meta Mate Bath Salt is an homage to the Family Gehm as well as to our Berliner „Krauter Hexe“ Verzaubereien with whom we developed a range of Mate Cosmetics in 2012.
Unfotunately these products will no longer be part of our range.
