Bringing Yerba Mate to Your Sports Team

Yerba mate has always been part of the game

Walk through most any training ground in Argentina or Uruguay and you will find a gourd and thermos passed hand to hand between drills, sipped between breaks, and carried to high-stakes games.

Soccer superstars Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both carry personalized mate gourds to Inter Miami practices and matches, and the club reportedly travels with more than 25 pounds of yerba on international trips. Argentine defender Franco Negri has described mate as "a fundamental part of every locker room," a way the team bonds before players even touch a ball. Even teammates with no South American background, like German American midfielder Julian Gressel, have been seen picking up the habit at Inter Miami.

Coverage from the Copa America described mate as the drink that unites the tournament, shared in the stands as much as on the bench, and outlets covering the 2026 World Cup described mate as a taste of home for traveling fans. More Americans are seeing this routine up close than ever before, including on the intramural fields, club pitches, and college programs where a lot of those fans also play, captain, or coach.

The routine

Part of what makes mate different from a coffee run or an energy drink is that it was never really designed for one person. The traditional way to drink it, passing a single gourd around a circle with one metal straw, a bombilla, is built for a group. A team already gathers before and after practice, warmups, and celebrations. Mate gives that gathering something to share.

Yerba mate has roughly 80 mg of caffeine per cup, in the same range as a cup of coffee. Many yerba mate drinkers describe it as feeling steadier than an energy drink, without the crash. Coaches, captains, and team leaders across the globe are stocking up, another way to bring a team together before or after a session.

The Setup

Based on what we see from the teams and events we work with, here's how a team routine tends to come together:

1. One person, usually a captain or a manager, owns the station: a kettle or thermos of hot water kept between 150 and 180 F, never boiling, with about 165 F the easiest sweet spot to hit.
2. Each player gets their own cup or gourd rather than sharing one straw across the roster. It keeps the tradition's spirit without sharing germs. There's a wide range of ready-to-use gourds, from the utilitarian Condor Black to the sleek Jaguar Salteño.
3. Yerba is prepped ahead of time in bulk so the pregame routine takes minutes.
4. A caffeine-free option sits next to the regular yerba for evening practices or a second session late in the day. Salta Sunset, our caffeine-free blend, is great hot or cold.
5. The routine happens at the same point every time, before warmups or right after the cooldown, so it becomes part of the rhythm.

Ordering tips

If you are the one placing the order, a few things make it easier the first time around:

• Start with a small order before you commit to a full roster. Try one or two bags and a couple of cups first, run it at a single practice, and see who actually drinks it before you order for 25 players.
• Order loose-leaf yerba in bulk once you know it is a fit. Ordering a few bags at a time is more efficient than reordering weekly. Ask us about our quantity discounts.
• Give every player their own cup. Stainless steel cups are the easiest option for a team: no curing required like a traditional gourd, and they hold up to being tossed in a bag between practices.
• Order ahead of preseason. Give yourself a couple of weeks of lead time so gear and yerba arrive before your first team session.
• Talk to a real person if you are ordering for a full roster. Reach out through our contact page before placing a large order. We'd love to help you get the right mix of gourds and yerba together.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Caffeine affects everyone differently, so check with a healthcare provider or your team's medical staff with any questions.