2020.

A year we’ll never forget.

A year where we’ll transition from the old to the new.

And a year we probably consumed the most yerba mate ever.

It’s been quite a ride looking back.

Lots of ups and downs. Ins and outs. And worst of all, the unknown.

I remember at the beginning of the year, I was told by a friend something along the lines of, 2020 seems to be a year of emotional stability.

And this was before the entire pandemic even happened. I don’t remember exactly what caused him to say it, but he was right.

Freaky huh?

But despite all the chaos we’ve collectively endured, I have to say, this has been one of the best years for me and Yerba Mate Lab.

We’ve grown a lot.

We’ve expanded our store.

We’ve worked with many companies.

And best of all, we’ve formed great relationships with other materos along the way.

As we come to the end of this crazy year, let’s take a look back at some of the big milestones we’ve hit this year…

Yerba Mate Lab 2020 Recap

50+ Yerba Mate Reviews

In 2020, Yerba Mate Lab published its 50th yerba mate review!

This is the most yerba mate reviews ever accomplished by a single website and I’m glad I had the opportunity to do so.

These reviews include traditional loose leaf brands, boutique brands that were sent to us, as well as canned yerba mate.

Reviews are the cornerstone of Yerba Mate Lab and it’s what we’ve built our site on from the very beginning.

But this wasn’t just by happenstance.

Ever since I realized there was more to mate than just the typical notes of earth, soil, and dirt, I made it my goal to help others dive deeper into each brand by posting these reviews.

And by the feedback I’ve received, it seems many have benefitted in expanding their palate and improving their detection of notes which is amazing.

You can expect a lot more of these reviews in 2021.

2500 Followers On Instagram

I’ve never made it my goal to grow an Instagram following for Yerba Mate Lab, but there’s quite a community there.

After posting semi-regularly, we’ve managed to acquire 2500 followers.

Compared to other accounts, this is nothing.

But to me, it means a lot.

Our Instagram features our yerba mate reviews, pictures of others with their mate out in nature, and fellow materos from around the world. All in efforts to spread the word and inspire more to deepen their connection with yerba mate.

Expanded Our Store

In the United States, traditional yerba mate has still yet to reach mass popularity.

And to be honest, I don’t think it ever will. At least any time soon.

As time goes on, we’re gradually moving further and further away from tradition. Fewer calabash gourds, more steel and glass gourds. Now I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that. In fact, I’m all for it if it’s not made clear already by the number of pictures you see of our stainless steel gourd.

What I’m not for, however, is the tradition becoming obsolete, especially when it’s what drew me in in the first place.

It’s for this reason why we’ve expanded our store vastly in 2020.

We started in mid-2019 solely offering our readers samplers of different yerba mate brands. But I knew that wasn’t enough if I wanted to help keep the tradition alive. That’s when we’ve started partnering with other yerba mate companies including small boutique shops to provide mate gourds we all know and love, as well as unique ones that can’t be found anywhere else online. And we plan to source even more as we move into the new year.

Published The First-Ever Yerba Mate Review Journal

If you’ve been a long-time reader of Yerba Mate Lab, you know I’m all about exploring the unique characteristics of each brand.

The taste, the smell, the body, the look, etc…

It’s why I named this site Yerba Mate Lab.

I view each yerba mate brand as a study/experiment. Something more than just a drink to make you feel good. It’s not just tea. It’s an experience no other company can replicate, despite generally going through the same harvesting and processing methods. This is why I believe it deserves dedicated time, attention, and study to truly appreciate it.

There’s a lot more to yerba mate if you go looking. And from there, a whole new world is opened up to you.

To help facilitate this process, we’ve published the first-ever Yerba Mate Review Journal which you can find on Amazon so you can deepen your relationship with each brand.

What’s In Store For 2021

Aside from what we’ve been able to do in 2020 so far, we still have a lot more in mind.

Reviews will of course still be published as much as possible. More guides will be on the way along with some experimental things. Youtube videos will be created. And a lot more.

But most important of all, we are happy to announce that we’re planning to release our own yerba mate blend. We can’t disclose much yet, but we can say these blends will be extensively studied by us to ensure good quality, taste, and complexity, before their official release.

Now although 2020 may have been chaotic, there’s a lot to be excited about in 2021.

Let’s make this new year a year of peace, connection, and health.