According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Brazil produced more than 527 thousand tons of yerba mate in 2020, with 520 thousand tons from its South Region alone. Among the states that stand out for yerba mate production in Brazil are Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Mato Grosso do […]
Brazil has a historical connection with spices, teas, and healing herbs. For years, our economy was based on the spice trade. Before that, native peoples already used spices, herbs, and teas for treating illnesses and as a mark of our culture. Today, Brazil continues to honor its legacy and stands out in the production and […]
Almost 15 years ago, Ariana Maia, a geographer from Rio de Janeiro, moved to Ilópolis, a small town in the South of Brazil. Unlike most of her new neighbors, Ariana was not familiar with chimarrão, a local infusion highly consumed in the region. For generations, her husband’s family grew yerba mate, the medicinal plant used […]