In May 2025, Guayakí Yerba Mate — the California-based company that almost single-handedly introduced yerba mate to the American mainstream — officially completed its transformation into Yerba Madre. The rebrand, which the company describes as a return to the plant's ancestral meaning ('Mother Herb'), coincides with a series of certification firsts that position the renamed company at the forefront of regenerative agriculture in the beverage industry.
The First Regenerative Organic Certified Gold Yerba Mate
Yerba Madre's Traditional Air-Dried Loose Leaf has become the first yerba mate product in the world to achieve Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) Gold status — the highest tier of certification administered by the Regenerative Organic Alliance. The ROC framework evaluates agricultural operations across three pillars: soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. Unlike standard organic certification, which focuses primarily on the absence of prohibited substances, ROC Gold requires demonstrable improvement in ecological outcomes over the certification period.
The company has committed to obtaining ROC certification across its entire product line, a process that will require all ingredients — including cane sugar — to meet the certification's supply-chain requirements. The Unsweetened Original Yerba RTD will be the first canned product to carry the ROC seal on packaging in 2026, according to company statements reported by Forbes.
The Shade-Grown Seal
Perhaps the most significant long-term development is Yerba Madre's introduction of what it describes as the world's first 'Shade-Grown Yerba Mate' seal, scheduled for 2026. The seal validates that Ilex paraguariensis plants are cultivated beneath the canopy of native Atlantic Forest species — mimicking the plant's natural understory habitat in the Paraná Plateau ecosystem. The agroforestry approach is practiced by the company's network of 255 partnership farmers and Indigenous communities across Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Yerba Madre means Mother Herb — honoring Mother Earth and the Indigenous knowledge that has sustained this plant for centuries. This isn't a marketing exercise; it's a homecoming.
Innovation Pipeline
Alongside the rebrand, Yerba Madre has announced a 2026 innovation slate that includes refreshed sparkling lines, a lower-sugar 'Enlighten Mint' flavor, and convenience-store-exclusive varieties (Strawberry Kiwi, Cherry Sublime, and Mango Fuego). The company also received a 2025 NEXTY Award — a mark of recognition from New Hope Network for products that advance the natural products industry. Cans and bottles are transitioning to the Yerba Madre label on a rolling basis throughout 2025 and 2026.