What if your daily energy ritual could be more than just a cup of coffee?
For people living in Argentina, that answer has always been yerba mate.
Yerba Mate is traditionally made by steeping dried yerba leaves in hot water inside a gourd called a mate and drinking it through a metal straw called a bombilla. It has a very earthy, herbal flavor profile that’s completely different from coffee, and it gives a smooth, natural energy without the crash. People pass the mate around in a circle and share conversations, stories and moments together.
For CEO & Co-Founder of Café Corazón Dulcinea Herrera, the storytelling and cultural element of yerba mate is similar to the culture she has infused into each of her Cafe Corazón locations throughout Kansas City.
“Beyond the taste, it creates an experience. Most drinks are something you grab and go, but mate is something you slow down and connect over,” she said “In Argentina especially, it’s deeply tied to community and connection. We honor that tradition while also introducing people in Kansas City to the culture behind it.”
At the last World Cup, the team brought over 1,100 pounds of it to Qatar, not as a luxury, but as a necessity. It’s how they started their mornings, centered themselves before matches, and stayed connected as a team. When Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy, his mate was right there beside him, which became one of the most-liked photos in history.
At Café Corazón, that story isn’t a trend, it’s lived.
“People are becoming more interested in the traditions behind the sport because of the World Cup in Kansas City, and mate is such a big part of that identity,” Dulcinea said. “We’ve naturally become a gathering place for that excitement and cultural exchange, which has been incredible to witness.”
Co-founder Miel Herrera, who is Argentinian, grew up with yerba mate as part of his daily life. Café Corazón sources their yerba mate directly from partner farms in Argentina, honoring not just the product, but the people and traditions behind it.
“Café Corazón has always been about creating cultural bridges. Argentina has such a beautiful culture centered around passion, community, art, music and connection values that deeply align with who we are as a company. Seeing people from different backgrounds come into our cafés, share mate, watch matches together and connect through culture is exactly why I started Café Corazón in the first place,” Dulcinea said.
Dulcinea and Miel have enjoyed weeks of these connections with people from all over the world, of course, with yerba mate at the center of it all. Each sip carries culture and connects drinkers with over 1,000 years of history.
“Honestly, it feels surreal,” she said. “Kansas City already has such a strong soccer culture, but having Argentina come here is something incredibly special for our community, especially for the Latin American community. My team is thrilled because it feels like a moment where the world came to Kansas City.”