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Mate and its flavors: What taste can you expect?

October 21, 2020

Time to read 2 min

For new followers, it can be confusing.
For enthusiasts, it's a real treat.

Each yerba mate has its own personality: some are vegetal, others smoky, more or less bitter, sometimes sweet or earthy.

Together we will discover the different taste textures of mate.

So, what does maté taste like? How can this drink be sweetened? And what are the different types of maté?

Summary

The Taste of Yerba Mate: A Taste That Needs to Be Acquainted. Why Can Yerba Mate Be Bitter? Organic, Mild, and Balanced Yerba Mate. The 3 Types of Yerba Mate: Green Yerba Mate , Mature Yerba Mate, Roasted Yerba Mate. The Different Ways to Consume Yerba Mate — and Their Impact on Taste : Yerba Mate in a Gourd: The Most Authentic Experience; Yerba Mate in a Teapot or Tea Bag: A Milder Infusion; Iced Yerba Mate (Terere): Refreshing and Thirst-Quenching. How to Sweeten Yerba Mate? 1. Spit Out the First Sips. 2. Control the Infusion Time. 3. Add a Natural Sweetener . 4. Opt for Flavored Yerba Mate. 5. Allow Time for the Taste to Develop.

The taste of mate

The taste of maté is unique, sometimes difficult to describe. Like coffee, wine, or black tea, it's a taste that is discovered over time.

A taste that needs to be tamed.

At first, yerba mate may seem bitter , even unsettling. But don't worry: your palate will adjust. The more you drink, the more you'll begin to discern its subtleties.

Some people love it from the first sip, others need a few tries. But one thing is for sure: it's a drink that's worth the effort — and it's well worth it!

Why can mate be bitter?

The bitterness of yerba mate depends on many factors:

The variety of yerba
The farming method
Harvest time
The producer's expertise

For example, yerba harvested before maturity and grown in full sun will be much more bitter.

To learn more about the different factors influencing the taste of mate, we have a complete article on the subject!

An organic, mild and balanced mate

Our organic mate is grown in agroforestry, in the shade of trees, in the heart of biodiversity.
Harvested at maturity, every two years, it develops naturally sweeter and milder aromas.

The result: a mate with a well-rounded taste, a long finish , and a beautiful aromatic complexity.

The 3 types of yerba mate

There are three main types of yerba mate, each with a very distinct taste profile.

The three different types of yerba mate

Green Mate

Green maté is freshly harvested yerba mate. This yerba is very mild , very fresh, and vegetal. Its taste is similar to green tea in its mildness, but it differs in its very particular notes, unique to maté.

Matured Mate

Matured yerba mate can be aged between 3 and 24 months. As with wine, cheese, or charcuterie, the longer the aging time, the more concentrated the flavors will become , moving away from the taste of green yerba mate.

We age our yerba for 24 months to achieve a beautiful bitterness, a balanced sweetness, balanced by a measured acidity with a nutty finish.

Roasted Mate

Roasted yerba mate differs drastically from the two previous types. Like coffee or cocoa, the leaves are roasted according to a specific recipe. The roasting time greatly influences the final flavor; mastering the roasting process is essential to extract the best from the leaves.

Roasting gives the infusion a flavor that lies somewhere between coffee and tea; you'll find the strength, the roasted and caramelized notes characteristic of coffee , balanced by the smooth mouthfeel of tea. Some even detect hints of smoky tea.