Not Sweet. Not Sorry. Premium sparkling Yerba Mate brand joins SoCal Incubation Program and launches new Watermelon flavor.
Tama Tea, the better-for-you premium sparkling Yerba Mate brand known for its modern take on clean beverages, today announced a strategic partnership with L.A. Libations, the beverage industry's leading incubator for emerging brands. Through this collaboration, Tama Tea will expand its retail footprint across California, positioning the brand for broader national growth by 2026.
Built for consumers who don't want sweet drinks and don't feel the need to apologize for it, Tama Tea delivers smooth, balanced energy without the crash, jitters, or candy-like aftertaste common in traditional energy drinks. The brand's lightly sparkling yerba mate offers a modern alternative for people who want functional energy that actually tastes like tea.
As part of the SoCal Incubation Program (SIP), Tama Tea will gain access to L.A. Libations' field execution team, retail analytics, and category strategy to strengthen in-store performance and accelerate its next phase of growth. The SIP platform has helped launch and scale numerous breakout beverage brands by pairing hands-on market execution with strategic brand development.
"We've built Tama Tea around the idea that ready-to-drink beverages can be both functional and delicious without sacrificing quality," said Kelly Struble, CEO of Tama Tea. "I'm really excited to debut our sparkling Yerba Mates in the CA market, which provide balanced energy for everyday consumers who care about how they fuel their bodies. Partnering with L.A. Libations gives us access to a team that truly understands how to build beverage brands. We're excited to build more fans of Tama Tea who can soon find our product on shelves on the West Coast."
"Tama Tea fits squarely within the emerging 'modern tea' category: real ingredients, clean caffeine from yerba mate and green tea, and a flavor profile that aligns with today's functional beverage consumer," said Dan Weisbach, Vice President at L.A. Libations. "Our team is thrilled to help expand their retail presence and build the kind of velocity stories that unlock national distribution."
The announcement coincides with the launch of Tama Tea's newest flavor: Watermelon Yerba Mate, the brand's fourth SKU in its sparkling yerba mate lineup. Each 12oz can delivers 120mg of clean caffeine with just 10 calories, has five ingredients or less, and offers a crisp, refreshing taste designed for energy and mental focus without the jitters.
About Tama Tea: Founded in 2015, Tama Tea craft brews sparkling Organic Yerba Mate and Green Tea with organic fruits and herbs. Known for its unsweetened, tea-first flavor profile, Tama Tea delivers smooth, balanced energy without the crash, offering a modern alternative to traditional energy drinks and sodas. Tama Tea is currently sold at Whole Foods in the southeast and Bristol Farms in CA.
About L.A. Libations: L.A. Libations is the leading beverage incubation and acceleration platform in the United States, partnering with visionary founders to build and scale emerging beverage brands. Through its SoCal Incubation Program (SIP) and deep retailer relationships, L.A. Libations has helped commercialize some of the most successful innovations in the beverage industry.
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