Laura’s Consumption Map

Guayakí Brand Yerba Mate is an American beverage company that is widely popular at the University of Richmond. It is marketed to students as an energy drink but yerba mate has been largely important in the culture of many of the southern countries of South America, such as Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and some of Brazil. It has been consumed by South Americans for centuries, starting with the indigenous Guaranií tribe, and then consumed by the Spanish conquistadors and religious colonizers in the beginning of the 1500’s. Yerba mate’s long history and wide popularity have led to deforestation due to the mass agriculture of yerba mate, yet Guayakí markets itself as a green fair-trade company. In my storymap, we will see the effect of our consumption of Yerba Mate at UR on an international stage.

Click here to view my storymap!