22
1 Yerba Mate Tea, a Traditional South American …
citizens in other continents such as Europe. In addition, the interest in ethical policies and ethnic products (alternative foods) has determined a strong interest in yerba
mate products. As a result, fair trade policies have been enhanced in this and other
primary production sectors. Anyway, it has to be remembered that the supply chain
includes, in the following order: labourers; producers; processors; and final distributors (Ballvé 2007; Boyd et al. 2009). This chain is based on traditional habits, and
it is difficult to think about alternative systems at present.
The history of yerba mate, from the Precolumbian Age to the Spanish Empire,
demonstrated how this plant has obtained favour by new Conquerors: after 1537
A.D. and the birth of Paraguay, the Spanish Crown had managed the harvesting of
all existing yerba mate in South America, forcing also indigenous Guaraní labourers
to spend some months per year in this activity (Smith 2014). Harvested native plants
would have been used as the local money, or delivered to Spanish provinces such as
Potosí (Bolivia). After 1645 A.D., the Jesuits obtained a particular Royal permission
for cultivating yerba mate in their missions (Paraná-Paraguay area), side-by-side
with indigenous labourers. This situation allowed them to export Chile and also
Central America (Panama and Mexico). After the expulsion of the Jesuits (1767
A.D.) from South American colonies, the yerba mate-based economy remained in
the hands of a little oligopoly in Paraguay: the labour force was, as always, the
Guaraní population. This situation would be notably modified between 1864 and
1870 (the War of the Triple Alliance) with the South American equilibrium shared by
Argentina and Brazil. The germination method for yerba mate was then discovered
again in these two nations, with the result that the modern yerba mate production is
substantially concentrated here. Curiously, the main area for non-native yerba mate
in Argentina corresponds to the old Missions of the Jesuits (at present, the Province
of Misiones) (Smith 2014).
At present, the commercial development and basic rules for yerba mate productions are defined, in Argentina, in the ambit of the Instituto Nacional de la Yerba
Mate (INYM). This Institution rules the whole sector when speaking of commercial
types, prices, and the general promotion of yerba mate in Argentina and worldwide
(Lawson 2009). However, the oligopolistic nature of the yerba mate system in South
America is still the normal status, meaning substantially that sellers exceed notably
the number of buyers. The current situation is the key for the comprehension of the
global yerba mate market, taking into account the two following variables (Smith
2014):
(1) Yerba mate, in all possible forms, is commercialised as a niche product or—
better—as an organic food in Europe (UK, Italy, Germany, Austria, France, and
Greece); North America (Canada; USA); Oceania (New Zealand); and Asia
(Malaysia, Japan). This list is not exhaustive, but it can give an interesting
idea of yerba mate sold with an organic certification, allowing for a better
diversification of markets and (probably) increased incomes for small farmers.
A non-secondary destination, Syria, adsorbs 40% of the total amount of yerba
mate destined to Middle East countries (Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria), and
this situation persists since 1935 at least
1 Yerba Mate Tea, a Traditional South American …
citizens in other continents such as Europe. In addition, the interest in ethical policies and ethnic products (alternative foods) has determined a strong interest in yerba
mate products. As a result, fair trade policies have been enhanced in this and other
primary production sectors. Anyway, it has to be remembered that the supply chain
includes, in the following order: labourers; producers; processors; and final distributors (Ballvé 2007; Boyd et al. 2009). This chain is based on traditional habits, and
it is difficult to think about alternative systems at present.
The history of yerba mate, from the Precolumbian Age to the Spanish Empire,
demonstrated how this plant has obtained favour by new Conquerors: after 1537
A.D. and the birth of Paraguay, the Spanish Crown had managed the harvesting of
all existing yerba mate in South America, forcing also indigenous Guaraní labourers
to spend some months per year in this activity (Smith 2014). Harvested native plants
would have been used as the local money, or delivered to Spanish provinces such as
Potosí (Bolivia). After 1645 A.D., the Jesuits obtained a particular Royal permission
for cultivating yerba mate in their missions (Paraná-Paraguay area), side-by-side
with indigenous labourers. This situation allowed them to export Chile and also
Central America (Panama and Mexico). After the expulsion of the Jesuits (1767
A.D.) from South American colonies, the yerba mate-based economy remained in
the hands of a little oligopoly in Paraguay: the labour force was, as always, the
Guaraní population. This situation would be notably modified between 1864 and
1870 (the War of the Triple Alliance) with the South American equilibrium shared by
Argentina and Brazil. The germination method for yerba mate was then discovered
again in these two nations, with the result that the modern yerba mate production is
substantially concentrated here. Curiously, the main area for non-native yerba mate
in Argentina corresponds to the old Missions of the Jesuits (at present, the Province
of Misiones) (Smith 2014).
At present, the commercial development and basic rules for yerba mate productions are defined, in Argentina, in the ambit of the Instituto Nacional de la Yerba
Mate (INYM). This Institution rules the whole sector when speaking of commercial
types, prices, and the general promotion of yerba mate in Argentina and worldwide
(Lawson 2009). However, the oligopolistic nature of the yerba mate system in South
America is still the normal status, meaning substantially that sellers exceed notably
the number of buyers. The current situation is the key for the comprehension of the
global yerba mate market, taking into account the two following variables (Smith
2014):
(1) Yerba mate, in all possible forms, is commercialised as a niche product or—
better—as an organic food in Europe (UK, Italy, Germany, Austria, France, and
Greece); North America (Canada; USA); Oceania (New Zealand); and Asia
(Malaysia, Japan). This list is not exhaustive, but it can give an interesting
idea of yerba mate sold with an organic certification, allowing for a better
diversification of markets and (probably) increased incomes for small farmers.
A non-secondary destination, Syria, adsorbs 40% of the total amount of yerba
mate destined to Middle East countries (Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria), and
this situation persists since 1935 at least