We are continuing our discussion of how to compare brands of yerba mate. Last time we considered the composition of the yerba and the color of the brewed mate. This time we will focus on the attributes of the resulting yerba mate infusion.
Aroma — Good yerba has a distinctive, pungent aroma. It is unique and does not smell at all like coffee, tea or any other beverage. You will soon recognize the aroma of a good mate and will thereby also recognize an inferior one. Properly seasoned yerba has a rich, satisfying aroma and does not smell “grassy” or damp. I have even heard people describe a good mate as smelling “sweet.” (Hmm? Well, maybe.)
Flavor – The formula for flavor is: “Flavor = Taste + Aroma.” In many ways, flavor is a personal preference. See my prior post on “Aquiring a taste for yerba mate” as a background for deciding what flavor is right for you.
Froth — A key indicator in evaluating the quality of yerba is the froth that appears on the top of the hot liquid poured into your gourd, French press or coffee maker. You can also see the froth in the air pockets or around the edges of a tea bag or around the rim of a poured cup. This froth lets you know that there are active nutrients in the yerba. If you sip your mate from a gourd or re-use your tea bags, the froth will diminish with each succeeding pour. This means that each new pour is providing less flavor, nutrition and benefit.
Freshness — Yerba will still be good, and provide some nutrition for as long as five years, but the potency diminishes after two or three years. For this reason, you should buy your yerba from a source that sells a lot of yerba mate. Big turnover means fresher yerba. Look for a “sell by” date on the package as an indicator of the freshness. Some yerbas sold in South America do not have a sell by date. In Argentina, yerba mate must be sold within two years.
Results – A good test is how you feel 20 minutes after you drink your mate. Consider the caffeine effect as a good indicator. Are you feeling more awake? Do you feel energized? Is your fatigue dissipating? You should start feeling these effects within 15 to 20 minutes. These are noticeable indicators that your mate is delivering the promised results. If you have been gulping coffee or colas for years, you will notice that yerba mate’s “wake up” stimulus is a little more subtle, but the energy you feel is more tangible and does not give you the jitters.
Some brands will have more “caffeine kick” than others. This doesn’t mean that the milder yerba is any less potent in other areas however. Instead, this could be part of the brand’s identity. The producer might have perfected the brand’s identity after years of experimenting with the location and elevation of the trees, the season of the harvest, how the yerba is cured, how long it is aged and many other variables.
It may take more experience to recognize the following signs, but they are equally valid indicators that your mate is working. Can you feel your sinus membranes shrinking? Are you feeling a sense of peace or calmness? Is your head clearing of distractions and leaving you with a mental clarity and focus? After a week or so, have you noticed that your stool is looser and your bowel movements are more regular? After several weeks, can you feel that your skin is softer and more elastic?
Fresh yerba mate from the gourd is more effective than drinking brewed mate from a cup; it is more concentrated and thus much stronger than other preparation methods. Still, all methods of preparation will produce the desired results if taken often enough. Three times a day is an ideal minimum for good health — regardless of the brand you choose.
I recommend that you stick with major brands until your sensitivities are grounded. The brand you buy from a neighborhood market or health food store is often the only brand they carry – but, you can order most U.S. and South American brands on the Internet. Each new brand that you try can be compared to the one you just finished. After using one brand for a week or more, you will soon recognize the differences when you begin using a new brand.
Learn to be a connoisseur! Sampling different brands of yerba mate can be as much fun as sampling any food or beverage. You will soon have favorites. Even the most expensive yerba mates are reasonably priced when compared to wine, beer or even coffee and tea. Yerba mate is truly an affordable indulgence!
Salud!
(There will be more.)
Jim Worsham - is the author, editor, publisher, and owner of this blog. He resides in Long Beach, CA.
October 29th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Could you recommend some good organic brands? April
October 29th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
My policy is to avoid making recommendations regarding brands. Most of the major U.S. branded yerba mate is certified organic by the USDA. Look for other organic labeling on many of the South American brands too. But simply being labeled as “organic” does not make it good. Consider the criteria that I have outlined in these articles and make your choice based on taste and your body’s reaction to the organic brand you like. Good luck!
June 15th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Hi, 2 weeks ago i read about the great benefits of yerba mate, i am drinking it everyday, however mine DOES NOT froth at all, i got organic NON SMOKED, all leaf, it does have anything to do with it?… eco..
First i moist the yerba mate with regular water, then i add non boiling water, i have tried the tea bags as well as lose dried leafs.. i use a regular cup.. pls.write back… i will appreciate any comment… thank’s…
June 15th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
I have found that the amount of froth varies by brand and type of yerba. I am very surprised that you do not see ANY froth.
A few thoughts come to mind. First, I hope you do not let it stand in the tepid water more than a minute or two before pouring in the hot water. Second, I hope the water, while not “boiling” hot, is at least 140 degrees. Third, with tea bags, you may not see the froth around the edge of the cup, but you certainly should see it in the air pockets of the tea bag.
If you are using a French press, it could be that the froth is actually under the plunger and enclosed in the sleeve with the yerba where you can’t see it. I always see plenty of froth around the edges of the liquid in my French press however.
Finally, the froth usually appears shortly after adding the hot water. Even a few “tiny bubbles” around the edges will be a good sign. I have had a few brands that did not produce very much froth — but most quality brands available in the U.S. have a lot. Look again.
December 20th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
We are new to using Mate. Some of the questions I have are as follows:
1. Does mate have caffeine or not? Or does it depend on how you fix it. I have been brewing it in my perculator like coffee. After the first batch is done, I rebrew another pot.
2. Does mate stain your teeth like coffee or tea?
3. Does it really have all the health benefits I’ve read about?
Looking forward to your response,
Adrienne
December 21st, 2009 at 9:03 am
Straight forward questions demand straight forward answers:
1. Yerba mate does contain caffeine and it does not depend on how you prepare it. Descriptions such as “mateine” are an attempt to explain the unique way yerba mate acts on the body, which is different than caffeine when present in coffee — but it’s still caffeine.
I know a lot of people who prepare it the way you do, but I don’t know of anyone “rebrewing” it because it is much weaker the second time around; however, there is nothing wrong with doing it that way. It really isn’t any different than continuing to pour fresh water into a mate gourd to make it last for hours.
2. Repeated use of yerba mate will stain your teeth, but not as much as coffee or tea. Regular dental visits will keep the stains in check.
3. Yerba mate really does contain all of the nutrients you’ve read about. Whether those nutrients will translate into a health benefit for you depends on many factors including: how your body reacts to the nutrients, what other sources of nutrients you already have in your diet and what nutrients your body may be lacking.