5X is thrilled to have the organic beverage company Guayaki bring their very own Guayaki Lounges to the Blockparty on Saturday June 17th and the Art Party on Sunday June 18th. Inspired by yerba mate’s roots in the Amazon Rainforest, Guayaki is curating a fun, dynamic lounge and bar where you can chill with your friends, enjoy DJ sets from Aanam, Molly, and Lil India, and try an assortment of exclusively made yerba mate cocktails. 

As their first partnership with a South Asian arts and culture festival at the premier level, we couldn’t be more excited to have Guayaki’s support in giving back to the creative community that makes 5X possible year after year. 

Though many of us have seen the cans around town, you might ask what actually is Guayaki’s Yerba Mate? 

Yerba mate is an organic caffeinated beverage and was first cultivated by the Indigenous Guarani, Tupi and Ache communities prior to the European colonization of what is now known as present-day Paraguay. 

The beverage comes from the naturally caffeinated leaves of a native species of holly tree which is native to South America. The leaves are then harvested by hand, dried and ground by yerbateros (cultivators) from small farms and Indigenous communities in Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. After being steeped in hot water in a gourd, yerba mate is ready to drink.

Guayaki also has a range of ways to enjoy yerba mate, including loose leaf, high energy and sparkling cans in their product family and a variety of unique flavours like Lemon Elation, Peach Revival, Bluephoria and more. 

Whether you’re a student trying to get through finals or even nursing a hangover, Guayaki’s Yerba Mate is the perfect pick-me-up to get you through your day. Tap into all the fun flavours that yerba mate has to offer, while supporting your favourite local South Asian creatives at The Guayaki Lounges at the Blockparty and Art Party next week. 

We’re just one week away, and you don’t want to miss it! Check out our full lineup of festival events at the link here.