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Find out how Triunfo's yerba mate harvest works

Triunfo do Brasil completed the first yerba mate harvest of 2024 at the beginning of June. The harvest period started in April. A second harvest is planned for September and October to meet our customer’s demand for fresh leaves.

Once harvested, the yerba mate leaves go through various processes before reaching their final destination. 

Read on to find out more about this very important period for the company. 

Yerba mate harvest at Triunfo do Brasil 

Yerba mate is harvested twice a year at Triunfo do Brasil. In total, Triunfo has eight active production areas in the municipalities of São João do Triunfo and Campo Largo, both in the state of Paraná. 

These are harvested alternately every two years. The technical team has found that this period allows the plants to regenerate better, increasing the productivity of the leaves.

Care during the harvest 

When harvesting yerba mate, certain precautions are taken to protect both the plants and the workers. For example, electric shears are used for pruning. This technology has only recently been developed for this crop. 

It is extremely beneficial for the plant, as it allows a more accurate cut and faster healing. As a result, it contributes significantly to better production in the next harvest. 

But its benefits go even further, as it is a much safer tool for workers to use, it does not carry the high risk of accidents associated with the use of a machete, for example. 

It also offers better ergonomics when pruning, as workers don't have to stand in uncomfortable positions. When using pruning shears, cuts are made more quickly, resulting in a much higher yield. 

Selective pruning of the stems is also used. This type of pruning also aims to improve the productivity and recovery of the plant. Only the strongest branches with the most leaves are harvested. The others, which are not yet fully developed, are left. 

Yerba mate in the factory: the production process

After being harvested, yerba mate goes through several processes before it is sold. 

When the freshly harvested leaves arrive at the factory, they undergo specially improvement processes. The first of these is the dryer, where the yerba is sapecada, dried and pre-crushed in order to transform it into cancheadas, i.e. dehydrated and rustically crushed.

The cancheada yerba mate then goes to the leaf sector, where the stems are removed and the leaves are ground into different sizes according to market demand.

For roasted yerba mate, the leaves go to the roasting machine, where they are dehydrated. Once these processes are complete, the batches are packed.

Extract production

In addition to bulk yerba mate, Triunfo also sells dry and liquid extracts. The mate sold as extract is transformed into these products at the extract sector. 

Through an exclusive production system, Triunfo is able to extract the maximum concentration of compounds from the leaves, preserving their bioactive properties.

To obtain the liquid extract, the leaves and stems are placed in a high-temperature boiling machine. This produces a liquid similar to a super-concentrated tea, from which a type of syrup is extracted, preserving the properties of yerba mate in a concentrated form. 

As for the dry extract, the process continues. The concentrated liquid goes into a machine called a spray dryer.

Here, a hot steam is applied to the liquid and it goes through an atomisation process, removing any moisture and producing the dry extract.

Triunfo do Brasil: Yerba Mate Excellence 

Triunfo do Brasil always strives to provide its customers with the best end product. That's why, from planting to harvesting and processing the yerba mate, the best technologies and care are used to maintain the quality of the leaves. 

Triunfo's production is organic and sustainable, always in harmony with the environment. It's no wonder that Triunfo Yerba Mate is already present in five continents of the world, with quality and production certifications valid in several countries. 

Contact our sales team to find out more about our products.