Alexis · Fondateur d'YVY Maté
The hot beverage market continues to expand with new flavors and experiences for tea and coffee lovers. Among these alternatives, yerba mate, a traditional South American drink, is gaining popularity in France.
In this article, we will introduce you to grand cru yerba mate, an exceptional variety that charms with its refined flavor and moderate bitterness.
We will explain how this drink is very similar to green tea and why it's time to introduce you to the art of tasting yerba mate.
Summary
The aromas of premium yerba mate: a unique taste experience
Tasting a traditional mate
Origin and harvest
Our premium yerba mate comes from the finest plantations in South America, where yerba mate plants are carefully cultivated using agroforestry techniques and hand-harvested at peak ripeness to preserve their quality and unique flavor. Harvesting typically takes place every two years to obtain leaves rich in aroma and nutrients. To learn more about our harvesting methods, we explain everything here: the factors that influence the taste of mate.
Drying and aging process
After harvesting, yerba mate leaves undergo a specific drying and aging process (or not) to preserve and develop their aromas. The aging period varies depending on the yerba mate variety and the desired result, but for premium yerba mate, it lasts a minimum of 24 months.
Refined and complex flavor
Grand cru yerba mate offers a unique flavor profile, combining vegetal, herbaceous, and slightly smoky notes. Tasting it also reveals hints of honey, hazelnut, and dried fruit, giving it incomparable complexity and aromatic richness. Each type of yerba mate concentrates its own distinct aromatic flavor: more herbaceous for green mate, more powerful and smoky for roasted mate, for example.
