GABRIELA Mercado is bringing a tea traditionally served in a pumpkin to Whanganui.
Her online business, La Pachamama, imports tea and other goods from Latin America and started in 2006 based in Auckland.
Ms Mercado said she started her business small, selling only yerba mate, a traditional herb from South America, which is prepared and drunk like tea.
"It is very different from western tea but very popular back home," she said.
Traditionally, it was drunk from a hollow pumpkin-like gourd "with a straw to filter out the end bits, and then you pour in hot water and share with friends".