Sip the Moon

Moonrise Mate is a small beverage company formed in 2026 in Austin, Texas, and is the passion project of husband-and-wife team, Frank and Julie. A cultural treasure of South America, yerba mate is a brewed tea-like beverage that's rich in caffeine as well as micronutrients and antioxidants. It is made from the dried leaves and stems of the Ilex paraguariensis holly tree, and traditionally consumed from a hollowed gourd through a filtered metal straw called a "bombilla." In countries like Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil, drinking yerba mate is a communal social ritual in which a designated individual, called the "cebador," will drink the first full gourd, and then refill it and pass it around to others. 

Julie, with her creative mindset and culinary background, has always enjoyed experimenting with different recipes and flavors. Frank has always enjoyed tasting her creations and giving feedback. With the primary motivation of finding a healthier source of caffeine to supplement their daily coffee intake, they began experimenting with cold-brewed yerba mate recipes that involved fruit and herb combinations. As their fondness for the drink grew, so too did their appreciation of the cultural myths they learned and the social connections they attributed to it. 

In a world where genuine social connection is needed more than ever, we believe that Moonrise Mate can be a channel for that. The Guaraní believed yerba mate was a gift to humans from the Moon Goddess, Yasí, and the Cloud Goddess, Araí. We believe in the quality of our product and we aspire to share the tradition of yerba mate with our community. As such, Moonrise Mate is available to cater events and excited for any opportunities to engage with the community as a vendor or otherwise. Please send us a message - we love to hear from you, and we are open to any feedback or comments!