October 2025 Newsletter
MATEKO
Bridging the world through the ritual of mate.
THE ROUND — October 2025
A monthly circle of stories, rituals, and reflections from the world of mate.
Feature
Apua | Shade-Grown, Fire-Dried Yerba Mate
We sat down with Gabe, co-founder of Apua, a regenerative yerba mate producer in southern Brazil reviving a nearly lost craft: growing mate beneath forest shade and drying it slowly over wood fire (barbacuá).
The result is a cup that feels like time travel: smoky, complex, and alive.
“My grandpa tried our mate and said, ‘This is what I drank when I was little.”
— Gabe, Apua
Why it’s special
- •Shade-grown agroforestry: Hundreds of native and fruit trees grow alongside mate — no monoculture.
- •Traditional fire drying: Dried for up to 30 hours over indirect wood flame (vs. 1–3 hours industrially).
- •Single-origin batches: Each harvest tells its own story of soil, sun, and shade.
Tasting notes: Deep forest aroma, gentle bitterness, and a smooth, balanced lift. Brew at 65–70 °C to let the smoke open slowly.
Mate Tip of the Month
Water temperature matters
Water can make or break your mate. Too hot and the yerba burns, turning bitter. Too cold and the flavor never opens up. And if the water itself tastes off, your mate will too.
- •Heat water to 70–75°C (160–170°F); never boiling.
- •Use filtered or spring water if possible; chlorine or hard tap water dulls the taste.
- •Keep a thermos nearby so you can pour slowly and keep temperature steady.
Good water = smoother taste, longer-lasting yerba, and a mate you love to drink.
Gear Spotlight
Bortonaggio 1000-Hole Bombilla
Reddit’s been talking about the Bortonaggio lately, and it made us smile. It’s the same one we reach for every day, so here’s what people are saying about our favorite bombilla:
“The initial experience is totally mind-blowing compared to the cheap ones I had. It handles water temperature and mouthfeel differently. It was an immediate, ‘Oh, this is what I’ve been missing!’” -Reddit User
“Probably the best bombilla for Brazilian-style mate. I also use it for a sloppy tereré in a tall glass...it's long enough not to get lost, and it never clogs, no matter how fine the cut.” -Reddit User
“It’s my daily. It put all of my others out of use.” -Reddit User
Quotes adapted from public Reddit comments; usernames omitted for privacy and clarity.
Mate in the News
Dialogue Earth: Warming climate could make Uruguay a new yerba mate frontier: Rising temperatures are redrawing the mate map… Uruguay may emerge as an unexpected cultivator.
Tridge: Argentina’s herbal tea vendors file court action to revive INYM leadership: A legal showdown brews as producers push to restore the National Yerba Mate Institute’s power.
Concacaf: Gold Cup names Yerba Madre as official 2025 tournament partner: Mate goes mainstream on the pitch — first-ever yerba mate sponsorship in pro soccer.
Plan B Misiones: Farmers decry price-fixing after deregulation: Growers warn a handful of companies now dictate leaf prices, squeezing producers post-deregulation.
Bloomberg: Argentina’s yerba mate farmers reel as Milei ends price controls: Prices drop at home while uncertainty rises for producers.
Closing Thoughts
From the hands that grow it to the friends who share it, mate keeps finding ways to bring people together. Thanks for letting us be part of that circle this month. See you in the next one.
— The Mateko Team