Yerba mate can be an acquired taste... but it's worth it!
The taste of yerba mate is definitely unique – but that's why so many people from around the world love it so much!
Popular in South America, specifically Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay – where the plant is grown – yerba mate has been consumed by South Americans for a long, long time. Yerba mate has now gone international, and many people in Canada, the United States, and Europe are enjoying yerba mate too.
Yerba mate has, in general, a slightly bitter taste. The drink is rich, comforting, and communal, and the tea was traditionally shared (using a bombilla and gourd) as a symbol of friendship and camaraderie.
Now that the drink has made its way around the world, you can easily order yerba mate leaves to make your own mate tea at home, or, you can purchase pre-made yerba mate infused drinks, like Mate Libre, to enjoy on the go.
Seeing that yerba mate contains caffeine and theobromine – which delivers a sustained, smooth, and longer lasting enhancement of energy and focus – many people are exchanging their coffee and energy drinks for yerba mate. Maybe you should too?!
Why is Yerba Mate so Popular in South America and around the world?
Drinking mate: what used to be popular only in South American countries is now a common pastime all around the world!
The yerba mate plant, which is part of the holly family, is grown, harvested, dried, (sometimes ground), and prepared with hot water to make tea. There are numerous health benefits associated with drinking yerba mate (e.g., improved cognition, lower blood pressure, weight loss), and the drink has been a cultural symbol in South America for years.
Did you know that yerba mate is the national drink of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay?
Besides the social significance of the tea, as well as the many positive benefits associated with drinking mate, yerba has a great taste overall. After all, how else would the drink have become so popular over the years?!
How does yerba mate make you feel?
Yerba mate is known as a natural energy-booster and mental focus enhancer. Importantly, these benefits come without the jitters, anxiety, and crashes typically associated with coffee or caffeinated energy drinks.
Some people choose to brew their own yerba mate tea at home, while others take advantage of convenient ready-to-drink yerba mate, like Mate Libre. Yerba mate is a versatile drink that can be consumed in place of morning coffee, as a pick-me-up in the middle of the day or after lunch, as well as before a workout or a sports game/event.
Thanks to the caffeine and wide range of natural compounds found in yerba mate, you can enjoy a sustained boost of energy and focus – with an added bonus.
What's the added bonus?
Here it is: Yerba mate tastes great, too!
Does yerba mate taste like green tea?
Most people have tasted green tea, but fewer have tasted yerba mate.
The best way to describe the taste of yerba mate is earthy, grassy, rich, deep, hearty, and usually somewhat bitter. At the same time, not all mates are bitter, and some types of yerba mate actually do taste somewhat sweet.
Yes – overall, yerba mate does taste a bit bitter, with many factors influencing the other, more subtle flavors that are to be enjoyed from the drink. In general, you can expect rich, slightly bitter, grassy, earthy and herbal notes in the various yerba mate teas you try. But don't let the idea of bitter taste scare you away! The flavors of yerba mate are nuanced, complex, and dynamic.
Importantly, the overall experience of each yerba mate will be different. Depending on how the yerba was grown, how it was processed, and how it was brewed, you're in for a different kind of taste each time.
What affects the taste of yerba mate?
Origin of yerba mate
Yerba mate is mostly grown in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. You can expect mate from each origin to taste slightly different from the next. Factors such as the environment (i.e., temperature, humidity), soil, sun and rain, and more can influence how the plant grows, and subsequently the concentration of caffeine and other compounds.
As an example, yerba mate grown in an area with a lot of exposure to sunlight might have more hay-like flavors. On the other hand, yerba grown in more of a rainforest environment might have more earthy and grassy flavors.
Here's a quick summary of what you can expect (in general) from each country's yerba mate.
- Yerba from Argentina tends to have a classic yerba mate taste – rich, earthy, and somewhat bitter.
- Yerba from Brazil (also called erva mate) tends to be bright green, fresh, and has a very grassy and almost sweet taste.
- Yerba from Paraguay tends to be bold and strong in flavor, which is conducive to the cold-brewed mate drinks that are so popular in the country.
- Yerba from Uruguay tends to get yerba mate grown in Brazil and then processes it in their own facilities, creating a yerba that is smooth, silky, and almost creamy in texture and flavor.
Growing and processing of yerba mate
Another set of important factors that influence the flavors of yerba mate tea are the growing and processing practices of the plants.
Just like fruits and vegetables, growing practices are crucial to the quality and quantity of the eventual harvest. Important questions can be asked regarding the approach to growing the yerba, including: Was the yerba mate grown organically or not? Were fertilizers used, and if so, which ones?
Once the yerba has been grown and harvested, drying, aging, and grinding are the next key steps in processing the yerba mate for human consumption. At each of these steps, different choices can alter the flavor of the plant.
For example, yerba mate that is smoke-dried will have more of a smokey flavor (obviously!), while air-dried yerba mate will have more of a natural, grassy flavor. On that note air-dried yerba is said to be healthier than smoke-dried, so keep that in mind if you're buying loose yerba to make tea at home.
Other factors include aging – the longer the yerba is aged, the deeper the flavors tend to be. Grinding of the yerba doesn't affect the taste necessarily, but it does change the drinking experience (i.e., large chunks of yerba plant or smooth powder-like substance).
Brewing of yerba mate
The way you brew a cup of yerba mate tea is one way that you can personally influence the taste of your drink.
Some people add sugar, honey, or other sweeteners to their yerba mate. Others prefer to keep only yerba mate and hot water in their gourd – to each their own!
When it comes to brewing your own yerba, how it's prepared will affect the richness of the taste. Basically, you have control over how strong the taste of yerba mate is by controlling the ratio of mate to hot water that you mix together in your gourd.
Is yerba mate an acquired taste?
Yerba mate, like many other great drinks, is an acquired taste. This doesn't mean that you won't enjoy your first sip of yerba mate, but it does mean there's a good chance you'll need to try a few different types of mate before you find the one that suits your taste.
The best piece of advice for new yerba mate drinkers is this: don't be afraid to try a few different types of yerba if the first cup you drink is not satisfactory. Just like drinking a cup of coffee, there is a lot that can influence the taste and the overall drinking experience. Just go for it and enjoy!
Do all yerba mate taste the same?
Yerba mate, depending on where it is grown and how it is processed, will vary in taste.
All mate teas will have that clear, distinctive taste of yerba – which is somewhat bitter, yet also rich and earthy – but beyond this there is much variation.
Especially if you're ordering yerba mate online and brewing your own cups of yerba tea at home, you can absolutely expect some variation in the flavors, textures, and tastes.
Want to have the same delicious mate taste every single time? Try Mate Libre yerba mate drinks!
Mate Libre Yerba Mate: The best tasting yerba on the market!
So many people have swapped out coffee and ditched energy drinks in exchange for yerba mate.
Made with organic yerba mate, one can of Mate Libre has the equivalent caffeine to one espresso. No crash, no jitters, no long ingredient lists of chemicals with names you can't pronounce!
With a variety of delicious flavors to choose from, you can easily make Mate Libre your daily pick-me-up, pre-workout boost, or even your cocktail mixer.
So, which flavor is it going to be?
Passion? Mint & Lime? Rose & Hibiscus? Ginger? Or the classic Original flavor?
For the best tasting yerba mate drinks on the market, look no further than Mate Libre!
