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Heretic Yerba

Heretic Yerba offers bold, handcrafted yerba mate blends and natural energy drinks that slay coffee culture. Fuel your mind, defy the norm, and question

Food & Beverage
1 Episode

The Story

Heretic Yerba is a small-batch yerba mate beverage company based in Longview, Washington, founded in 2018 by Dan and Kristina Criss. The company offers bold, handcrafted yerba mate blends and natural energy drinks as a smooth alternative to coffee, sourcing directly from sustainable farms in South America.

Heretic Yerba started at farmers markets in Vancouver and Astoria, building a loyal local following through Instagram and in-person sales. The brand's "defy the norm" ethos targets people seeking a thoughtful alternative to mainstream caffeine, and the company has expanded from loose-leaf blends into natural energy drinks.

The Criss couple personally oversees production and customer relationships, maintaining the company's founding mission of offering a clean, smooth caffeine alternative. Heretic Yerba continues to operate with a focus on small-batch craft and direct customer connections in the Pacific Northwest.

Key Facts & Metrics

đź“… Founded 2018
📍 Fairfield, CA
👥 5

Company Timeline

  • 2018 — Founded Heretic Yerba

    Launched by Dan and Kristina Criss as a small-batch yerba mate beverage company.

  • 2019 — Farmers Market Launch

    Began selling at Vancouver Farmers Market on weekends.

  • 2020 — Market Expansion

    Added Astoria Sunday Market to distribution reach.

  • 2021 — Energy Drink Line

    Introduced natural energy drinks alongside core yerba mate blends.

  • 2023 — Guy Raz Feature

    Featured in Guy Raz Substack newsletter, bringing national attention to the brand.

Episodes Featuring Heretic Yerba

Founders Featured