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Short answer:
The taste of mate can be overwhelming at first, but at the end of the day it is herbal infusion, so you can expect herbal tea-like taste from any kind of yerba mate. In general, mate is more bitter, more pronounced and bolder than green tea or other herbal teas. I also find most yerba mates to be more or less tobaccoey, earthy and naturally sweeter than most of the teas. The way that I would describe the taste of mate to someone who has never had it is that it tastes like a bitter earthy tobaccoey and sweeter green tea but bold and tart like a black tea with effects of coffee.
From all these years that I have been drinking mate I never heard that somebody had a neutral first experience — people either love their first sip, or absolutely hate it. In my case it was the latter — I still remember that first bitter and smoky sip of Rosamonte Tradicional that tasted like somebody brewed a cigarette. Since then my palate has evolved to appreciate this yerba mate a lot, but initially it took me two weeks to get adjusted to the taste of mate. The only thing that kept me going was curiosity, as I’ve seen so many people genuinely enjoying mate, making me wonder — what am I missing? If you have had the similar experience and doubt that you’ll ever like the taste of mate, hang on and I will give you some advices on how to get used to the flavor and start enjoying it.
What affects the taste of yerba mate
But first, let’s try to understand what makes yerba mate taste the way it does. As with tea or coffee, the flavors that develop in yerba mate depend on how the plant was treated starting from the small seed all the way to the final product, ready to be packaged and enjoyed.
Growing yerba mate
The location of yerba mate plants plays a big role not only in the final taste, but also in caffeine content and other properties that it will have. The main variables here are the environment, soil composition, exposure to sun and rain, and how the plant was taken care of and fertilized during its growing.
For instance, yerba mate that is grown on a sunny slope of the hill will most likely develop a high amount of caffeine as well as more light sweet hay flavors. On the other hand yerba mate that was grown in the shadows of the rainforest will be less caffeinated with more earthy and grassy flavors imparted to it.
The other thing that affects the taste of yerba mate is whether it was grown organically or not — natural fertilizers, like green manure and compost usually translate into more vegetative and green taste that makes organic yerbas stand out from the rest in terms of flavor.
Drying yerba mate
After the yerba mate plant has grown enough to be used for further production, some of the branches with leaves are being cut off and prepared for drying. Many yerba mate manufacturers use this step as a chance to impart their signature flavor profile. Remember my first experience with Rosamonte Tradicional? Well, one of the things that they do to create that smoky and bold taste is using a barbacuá drying method, which basically means that yerba mate is being dried over the open fire. This technique is particularly popular in Paraguay, but we’ll touch the topic of regional differences a bit later.
In general, most of the yerba mate is dried with some sorts of a heat source, usually trying not to expose it directly to the fire or smoke. However, some brands, like Kraus for instance, especially pride themselves on producing yerba mate that is completely unsmoked because it is dried naturally by the air in special rooms. This way of drying allows Kraus not only to market their yerba mate as an even healthier option free of any PAHs, but it also preserves more of those green and grassy flavors of a raw yerba mate.
Aging yerba mate
After the yerba mate is dried it may or may not be aged. What is aging exactly? It is a combination of fermentation and oxidation processes that alter the taste of yerba mate and allow it to develop complex and interesting flavors that are not present in non-aged yerba mate. During aging, which usually lasts up to 3 years, deeper flavor notes like dry fruits, prunes and figs are being developed.
The cool thing about yerba mate is that it does not require aging to be complex and interesting. For instance, Brazilian erva mate usually looks bright green and very fresh because it is milled and packed no longer than 15 days after it has been picked and dried, which gives it a whole different grassy flavor profile that is sometimes as complex as aged yerba mate.
Generally speaking, aging does not necessarily affect the complexity of yerba mate as much as it lets flavors develop and change from green and light to more brown and deep.
Grinding yerba mate
The cut of yerba mate does not particularly affect the taste, but it does change the mouthfeel and body of mate. In most cases the powder content in the cut of yerba mate is directly proportional to its body — the dustier it is the more full-bodied will be the mate. Stems on the other hand act inversely — the more stems are in the cut of the yerba the lighter mate will be.
Some people also find that stems add more sweetness to the taste of the mate, however in my experience there is no correlation between them. There are con palo yerba mates that are not very sweet, and at the same time there are naturally sweet despaladas, so even if stems do affect the sweetness of mate, I think there are other much more influential things, like climate and soil, that contribute to the taste.
Regional varieties of yerba mate
Now that we’ve covered what affects the taste of mate, let’s talk about what to expect from different regional varieties of yerba mate. Despite that it’s coming from the same plant, ilex paraguariensis, yerba mate can taste drastically different depending on the region that it has been grown and produced at.
Argentine yerba mate
To many people all over the world Argentine yerba mate is an epitome of that “classic” mate taste because for most of them Argentine yerba mate was the first one that they tried. I too started with Argentine yerba mates and in general would consider most of them more friendly to beginners than other regional varieties. Of course there are very complex, bold and intimidating yerbas from Argentina, but the variety that this country offers in terms of complexity and flavors make some of these yerbas perfect to start with.
The variety of cuts and drying methods used for Argentine yerba mates lets you explore all the range of flavors from light, sweet, fruity and hay-like to much stronger, bitter, earthy, leathery, and tart. You will find green grassy and organic Argentine yerbas as well as toasted and smoked ones, almost akin to coffee. The average Argentine yerba though is quite balanced, moderately bitter and earthy, moderately sweet, slightly woodsy and herb-like. If you want to explore the vast world of Argentine yerba mates I recommend you to read some of my reviews.
You’ll find an average Paraguayan yerba mate to have much more “brown” taste — less earthy and herbal, but more tobaccoey, woodsy, peppery and almost cardboard-like in flavor. Often, yerba mates from Paraguay are also smoked during drying which helps to bring out more flavor out of it, sometimes making Paraguayan yerba mate too overwhelming to enjoyably drink it with hot water. I like to compare drinking traditional hot mate made from Paraguayan yerba to drinking scotch whisky as I find that oaky smoky flavors create remarkably similar tasting experience between both of these drinks.
In terms of cut, Paraguayan yerbas usually have quite high powder content which also adds to the boldness and fullness of the body, as well as richness of the flavor. You can read my reviews of Paraguayan yerbas for a more comprehensive descriptions.
Uruguay does not grow their own yerba mate and prefer to source it in Brazil. However, Uruguayan manufacturers do age it in their own facilities and grind it very finely, up to P.U.1 standard.
The resulting product is somewhat similar to an average Argentine yerba mate in terms of flavor, but the fine dusty cut creates a unique tasting experience, which is usually more silky, syrupy, malty, chocolatey and creamy.
It doesn’t mean though that there are no smoky and bitter yerba mates from Uruguay — actually, the velvety and smooth mouthfeel created by the fine cut allows Uruguayan manufacturers to pull off bolder and more “masculine” flavors in their yerba mate that feel more pleasant and balanced, compared to a more edgy and harsh Paraguayan yerbas. I reviewed couple of great examples or Uruguayan yerba mates, so check them out to see what I’m talking about.
Yerba mate from Brazil, or erva mate as they call it in Portugese, is the most different of them all. Even more fine than Uruguayan yerba, non-aged, bright green, grassy and fresh, Brazilian erva mate looks and tastes quite similar to Japanese matcha tea.
Apart from the chlorophyllic and raw taste, Brazilian erva mate is often characterized by its natural sweetness, tasting almost like a sweet pea. Also, despite the fine and non-aged cut most of the chimarrĂŁo tastes quite milky, but not as thick and syrupy as Uruguayan mate, and very light-bodied, which can be explained by the heavy presence of stems. For more in-depth flavor profile please read some of my reviews of Brazilian erva mate.
When I had my first sip of mate I wondered why so many people are so passionate about it. Smoky, earthy, leathery and woodsy notes do not sound very appetizing, but the truth is that a lot of other gourmet things, like whiskeys, wines, teas, coffees and cigars can be described in a similar fashion. People like enjoying gourmet products for the complexity and unique experience that they offer and mate fits right in with this company, providing distinctive taste and kaleidoscope of flavors as well as a huge array of variables that make each yerba mate unique, ready to be discovered and explored.
Don’t like the taste of mate? Here’s what to do
Mate is an acquired taste, and if you are still doubting whether you like it or not, I will rephrase a famous response that whisky enthusiasts give in this case: “You just haven’t yet found the yerba mate that you like.” When you finally try yerba mate that suits your preferences you’ll know what I’m talking about! That’s why I am so passionate about writing comprehensive and descriptive reviews that help people make decisions, find yerbas that they love and discover new ones to try to expand their palate and enjoy drinking mate even more.
I would suggest to follow my path — find out if you can get a similar starter pack of different samplers, or go ahead and order couple of different yerbas online — most of the biggest brands in yerba mate industry sell 250g packs, making it easy to try multiple different yerbas without a huge commitment. Find out what yerba mate you can tolerate the most, stick to it and I guarantee you that in a couple of weeks you will fall in love with that beautiful drink.
In conclusion, I want to warn you about some of the common pitfalls and bad advice that you may receive when trying mate for the first time. First off, always prepare mate correctly and traditionally, meaning that you fill up the gourd 2/3 to 3/4 with yerba mate and drink it through bombilla. Some people may suggest that in order to avoid an overly bitter and strong mate beginners should fill only 1/4 of the gourd with yerba mate, or even use french press. In reality, this will result in mate “soup” that is unbalanced and unpleasant to drink. Properly prepared mate is designed to be balanced during the whole drinking session, as the water touches the yerba mate partially, eventually using it all over the time as you pour more and more water.
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And finally — don’t sweeten your mate if it is too bitter! Yerba mates that I recommend for beginners are already naturally sweet, and while they still may taste bitter to an unprepared palate, instead try to eat something sweet along with drinking.
Dulce de leche is a very popular dessert in Argentina and South America and goes really well with mate. I particularly find a combination of sweet
alfajores with bitter mate super delicious and yummy.
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Mate may seem intimidating and exotic, but in reality it is a very unique and interesting drink that is extremely rewarding to explore, offers so much variety and in my opinion is as gourmet as fine spirits, teas and coffees. Are you still curious about tasting mate, or have already tried it? If so, what was your first experience?
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Mate
Pronounced [MAH-teh]. Traditional South American caffeine-rich infused drink, very popular in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Southern Brazil (the term chimarrĂŁo is used there more often). It is prepared by steeping dried leaves of yerba mate in the gourd. Sometimes the gourd itself is referred to as mate.
Pronounced [YER-bah MAH-teh] (or [SHER-bah MAH-teh] in Rioplatense Spanish). Also known as Ilex paraguariensis, a holly plant natively grown in South America, particularly in Northern Argentina, Paraguay and Southern Brazil (the term erva mate is used there more often). Yerba mate is used to make a beverage known as mate in Spanish, or chimarrĂŁo in Portugese. Oftenly, the term yerba mate is used to describe not only a plant, but also a final product of grinding, drying and aging the plant.
The oldest method of drying yerba mate, first used by Guarani indians hundreds of years ago. During the barbacuá process, the leaves are exposed to the heat of a wood fire for a long period of time (around 12-24 hours), which gives the final product distinctive smoky flavor.
Pronounced [ER-vah MAH-tshee]. Yerba mate in Portugese. In general, term erva mate is used to describe a Brazilian type of yerba mate, which has a distinctive fine cut and almost no aging, which contributes to its very bright fresh green color. Erva mate is used to prepare chimarrão — Brazilian version of mate drink.
Characteristic, used to define the tactile feel of mate in the mouth, similar to other gourmet products, like wine or coffee. It includes the mouthfeel of the drink, its thickness and weight. Cut of yerba mate, drying methods and aging all contribute to the body of mate. Usually, body can be described as light, medium and full — the more thick and dense mate feels in the mouth, the more full body it has.
With stems in Spanish. Type of yerba mate cut which is characterized by presence of stems, or palos in Spanish. Usually more light and sweet than sin palo cut. Very popular in Argentina and Paraguay.
Yerba mate cut without stems. Type of yerba mate cut which is characterized by lack of stems, or palos in Spanish. Usually more strong and bitter than con palo cut. Very popular in Uruguay.
Infusion of yerba mate, similar to mate but prepared with cold water and ice. Most popular way of consuming yerba mate in Paraguay. Usually is drank with addition of yuyos from guampa.
Short for Padrón Uruguayo 1, or Uruguayan Standard 1 — one of three common standards of yerba mate cut in Uruguay. Yerba mate that is marked as P.U.1 consists of not less than 90% of pulverized dried leaves, and not more than 10% of finely ground dried stems. P.U.1 is the finest cut out of three. Most popular type of cut in Uruguay.
A vessel used for drinking mate traditionally. Usually it is made from a real dried calabash gourd, or calabaza in Spanish, hence the name. Today the term gourd is used not only to describe a calabash vessel, but any other cup from which mate is being drank (wooden, metal, ceramic, etc.)
Special drinking straw with a filtration system in the lower end of it. Usually made from metal or hollow-stemmed cane. Used for drinking mate traditionally with a gourd.
