CLEAN Cause: Fighting Addiction With Sparkling Yerba Mate

The Hercules of Teas has arrived.

The newest member of CLEAN Cause’s arsenal of delicious drinks is a game-changing sparkling yerba mate with a life-changing mission, the brainchild of a man who triumphed over monstrous obstacles and survived a trip to the underworld.

Hey Cupcake! King Makes Comeback

You may know Wes Hurt as the founder of Hey Cupcake!, a (the) local Austin cupcake business. You may not know he was fired from his own company as a result of drug addiction.

In 2015, he woke up on the floor of an abandoned warehouse beside a man he barely knew. Due to actions taken by Hurt, friends and family were forced to unify against him. It was their only way of getting through to him, if he was still in there at all. In those moments of complete isolation, he had a choice to make, one which he says hit him squarely: either live or die.

Fortunately, Hurt chose life. And with the support of his wife, 90 days later (now three years ago), CLEAN Cause was born. Except this time, Hurt was not only driven to create something new (which he refers to as his lifeline), but something bigger than himself–something the entire country can get behind.

Can With a Cause

CLEAN Cause lives by a radical yet simple premise: create the best drinks possible, in order to give the greatest number of dollars away.

The company gives an enormous 50 percent of profits toward Sober Living Scholarships. These scholarships provide funding for recovering alcohol and drug addicts, during the first 30 days of their reintegration period post-rehab.

Importantly, no other foundations or businesses focus so intensely on this specific period of recovery. It is a critical one. According to Hurt, the month after an individual finishes rehab and rejoins society is one of the most difficult. Temptation and personal demons lie in wait in every corner, as he or she meets the challenges associated with everyday life.

To date, CLEAN Cause has shelled out over $100,000 to Austin men and women committed to turning their lives around.

Bearing Fruit

The sparkling yerba mate, now available from San Francisco to Boston to Austin and back again, is positioned to make a nationwide impact in the fight against addiction. Flavors include peach, blackberry, raspberry, and lemon lime. This is the third product line by CLEAN Cause, following Premium Water and Clean Energy.

For all the progress and success CLEAN Cause has had, Hurt admits he and the company would be nowhere without the support of his family. His wife and best friend Sheila opened the door when he was at his worst. The couple now has two young children, Jude and Otis.

Get CLEAN

I know what you’re thinking. It’s a cause worth getting behind. The graphics on the can are tight. The story is remarkable. But is the thing any good? I mean, is it delicious?

Let me refer you to my latest experience at Central Market when Greg, the employee at the check-out, offered his unsolicited opinion on my choice of CLEAN raspberry yerba mate. Upon seeing the can, Greg exclaimed, “Oh man!! You gotta get the peach.” I told him it was sold out. He responds, “Oh man, next time! I’m all about the peach. All about the peach. Yeah man, I love CLEAN!”

Turns out he wasn’t even a mate guy until CLEAN came around. So take it from Greg. Take it from me. Take it from the CLEAN team: the days of beverage-guzzling in America is on the cusp of great change.

In the words of Wes Hurt: Time to Wake Up and Smell the Mate!

 

@theAustinot wants to know:

Have you tried CLEAN Cause’s yerba mate yet? Which flavor is your favorite?