Choosing a Maté:

There is likely close to 200 different brands of yerba mate produced in South America and they all have different characteristics based on location, time of harvest, and processing (or lack their of), so that the taste and effect can vary significantly. These factors can even cause variation even within the same product. We suggest purchasing brands that are vertically integrated; they control everything from the planting to the packaging. There is a lot of yerba mate shipped into the country in bulk and then packaged under various brands or just sold loose in herb and teashops. You should know who processed it and how old it is, after 2 years the yerba mate can taste stale, and there are health issues due to poor processing techniques.

What to look for in Yerba Mate
Although preference for one type of flavor or another is subjective, when tasting yerba, as when tasting other drinks, there are certain parameters that can be followed to judge the quality of this infusion objectively.
• During the visual evaluation of the product, the color perceived should be light, yellowish green, never intense, emerald or dark green. As the mate is poured, it should foam up slightly.
• The grinding should be harmonious, even: there should not be too much stem or fiber (broken stem); it should have some powder, but not in excess, and a good amount of broken leaves.
• The aroma is also important; it must be the characteristic smell of well seasoned yerba and should present no vestiges of dampness of foreign aromas. When yerba has not been properly seasoned, it presents a stronger, darker color of green, a noticeable bitter taste and a very strong “vegetable” taste that in some cases resembles the taste of algae. With good seasoning, the bitter streaks are attenuated, and a slightly fruity, subtly sweet taste appears. Obviously, their varies among the different varieties of yerba, according to the climate and geographical area in which it grows, the time of year in which it is harvested or the type of processing it is subjected to.