Time to Read: 7 minutes
Quick Overview
Almost all of Argentina's yerba mate comes from two northeastern provinces, Misiones and Corrientes. Many of the producers there open their gates to visitors along the Ruta de la Yerba Mate, the official Yerba Mate Route, where you can tour the fields, watch the process, and taste the results. Below are the standout plantations worth a stop on a green gold tour.
To find yerba mate, often called green gold, you head straight to northeastern Argentina. In the far-up provinces of Misiones and Corrientes you will find the plantations where your favorite herb is grown and harvested. The climate and conditions there are just right for the yerba mate plant, the Paraguayan holly or Ilex paraguariensis, to thrive.
Because Argentina is such a major producer and consumer, the nonprofit Asociacion Ruta de la Yerba Mate (ARYM) created the Ruta de la Yerba Mate, a route of producers you can visit, now expanded to include lodging, restaurants, and other attractions. We have focused on the plantations themselves and pulled together the best ones to see.
Before You Go
Hours, tour options, and contact details change over time. Always confirm directly with each plantation through its website before planning a visit.
The can't-miss plantations
Three producers stand out for their long history and well-known brands. If you only have time for a few, make it these.
Amanda
Where: Misiones, Argentina.
The world-class Amanda yerba is harvested at La Cachuera, the oldest known yerba mate plantation. They offer pre-arranged tours of the grounds plus a Historic Museum dedicated to founder Juan Szychowski. This is a true big-name stop on any green gold tour.
Kraus
Where: San Ignacio, Misiones.
Founded by Austrian immigrant Francisco Kraus, this plantation produces organic, fair-trade yerba. The yerba is air-dried, the land is sustainably farmed, and workers share in the earnings. A visit takes you through the landscape and the Kraus story.
Las Marias
Where: Corrientes.
Las Marias is the leading producer of yerba mate in the world, behind brands like Taragui, Union Suave, and La Merced. The grounds are open daily and stunning, with several tour options from a one-hour walk to a two-hour deep dive, a bike tour, and personalized visits through the parks, nursery, laboratory, and packaging plant. Keep an eye out for capybaras, toucans, and monkeys along the way.
More plantations worth visiting
Natura
Where: Misiones.
A popular brand on the official route, Natura prides itself on high-quality yerba and offers a wide range of varieties you can get to know on a visit.
Aguantadora
Where: Montecarlo, Misiones.
A historic brand and a cooperative, the Cooperativa Agricola Mixta de Monte Carlo, with hundreds of mostly small producers started by German immigrants. They welcome visitors to the plantation.
Andresito
Where: Misiones.
A younger cooperative, the Cooperativa Yerbatera Andresito, with a modern processing plant including dryers, a grinder, and a packager, producing several varieties of yerba.
Flor de Jardin
Where: Misiones.
A cooperative plantation that offers tours for both kids and adults and produces goods beyond yerba. It is known as a family-friendly stop on the route.
Isondu
Where: Obera, Misiones.
Isondu is notable for its unusual Barbacua drying process, a method originally created by the Guarani people. A unique plantation worth seeking out.
Mate Rojo
Where: Obera, Misiones.
Produced by Molinos La Mision, founded by Ukrainian immigrant Juan Eladio Stepaniuk, this family-oriented plantation lets you visit its processing facilities, an official stop on the route.
Pipore
Where: Santo Pipo, Misiones.
One of the first ten plantations in Argentina and once the world's second-largest exporter, Pipore offers on-site visits of its processing plant, including a traditional 80-year-old grinder, plus a store with all its varieties.
Playadito
Where: Corrientes.
One of the few big-name producers based in Corrientes, the Cooperativa Liebig opens to the public so you can see its historic room and industrial process and taste the products. You can also shop Playadito here.
Roapipo
Where: Misiones.
An organic brand from the Fundacion Alberto Roth, made with a special Roth system that avoids burning old trees. Visit the founder's original house, now a living museum, walk the ecological grounds, and even stay in one of the cabins.
Romance
Where: San Jose, Misiones.
An official route stop covering the full process from field to packaging, Romance was the vision of Miguel Gerula, who immigrated to Argentina in 1900.
Yerbatera
Where: Misiones.
Founded in 1983 and home to the As de Bastos brand, Yerbatera offers visits through drying, grinding, and packaging, plus a tasting of its products.
Frequently asked questions
Where is yerba mate grown in Argentina?
Almost entirely in the northeastern provinces of Misiones and Corrientes, where the warm, humid climate suits the Ilex paraguariensis plant.
Can you actually tour a yerba mate plantation?
Yes. Many producers along the Ruta de la Yerba Mate welcome visitors for tours, tastings, and museum visits. Some are free and others charge for guided tours, so confirm with each one before you go.
What is the Ruta de la Yerba Mate?
It is the official Yerba Mate Route, organized by the nonprofit ARYM, linking producers, lodging, restaurants, and attractions across Misiones and Corrientes into a travel itinerary.
Drink to connect
Whether you visit a giant like Las Marias or a small family cooperative like Flor de Jardin, touring a plantation is an unforgettable way to understand the work and tradition behind every gourd. Build your own Yerba Mate Route from the picks above. In the meantime, you can bring the tradition home with our yerba mate and starter kits.