Yerba mate leaves naturally have a vegetal flavour reminiscent of green tea, but more bitter.
This bitterness is exacerbated in finely cut matés, which are often very dusty, and in those with lots of stems (con polvo y palo). Woe betide those who are not warned: beware of the dust in the mouth and the strong bitterness!
The main criteria influencing the taste are the cut of the mate leaves and the presence of stems.
To choose your mate you will have to determine the taste you want: characterful with a strong bitterness or subtle with a controlled bitterness and a vegetal taste.
We have chosen a 4-5mm wide leaf cut for our matés, for a light and balanced bitterness. Our organic mattes are characterised by their subtlety: their aromatic notes evoke the vegetal character of a green tea.
Other factors can influence the taste of mate: its origin (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay…), its fermentation, its drying and the quality of the leaves.
The bitterness of mate is sometimes not appreciated by people new to this drink. They can then turn to naturally flavoured matés that allow them to enjoy the benefits of yerba maté while tasting a sweet drink similar to a scented tea.
To vary the pleasures and to introduce people to mate in a gentle way, we have created 3 flavoured mates: The Fruity, a mate with sweet orange notes, The Tonic, an energising mate with lemon and ginger, andThe Fresh, a refreshing mate with lemon and mint.