Guayaki

This was one of my first ventures with mate a few years ago. Lucky for me I enjoy chai and this is a slightly chocolatey version. I steep it for 10-12 minutes in very hot water and top it off with a splash of chocolate almond milk. Good evening drink for me as it often replaces dessert.

So I like mate blends…but I guess I’m not a huge fan of straight mate? The taste reminds me of the smell of hay. I did, however, like it when I steeped it with some crystallized ginger and then added sugar. I think next time I’m going to look for one without so many stems and so much dust, though.

This is less chocolate and more spice than I was hoping for. It’s not bad, but I was expected a richer, deeper chocolate flavor and instead keep getting spice tap danced across my tongue. If you’re looking for a chocolate mate, I’d suggest 52 Teas brand, instead!

Recently, I discovered a drink that I ADORE at the Philz on my walk to work. However, when I go there, I end up spending like $6 or more because I have no self control and get a vegan cookie, as well. Well, since I’m on a money AND food diet, I decided to buy a bag of these yerba mate bags, even though $5 for 25 seemed a little steep. Now, at Philz, I had them add a little soy milk and fresh mint, so I was trying to accomplish the same at home… SO, I mixed 40 oz of water with 4 yerba mate tea bags and 2 Trader Joe’s Mint Melange tea bags, then added some vanilla soy until my pot was about full (maybe a cup?)

PERFECT! Exactly what I was looking for. Too bad the tea bags are $5 for 25 and I’ve already used 6 bags since I bought them last night….

On a side note, does anybody know why there is a huge warning on the mate bag to NOT DRINK IT OVER 150 DEGREES?? :)

No rating, since I mixed it with another tea.

It’s too bitter for my taste, and I can’t say as I derived any particular stimulating effects, either. If I ever had it again, I’d probably have to add honey or agave to help take the edge off.

I’m such a loose tea snob but while rushing around from appointment to appointment this week I’ve turned to my tried and true Mate Chocolatte. It tastes a bit like a gingerbread to me, slightly like chocolate, but more like a rich spice.

This kind of keeps my energy up, I have 3 appointments to go, so technically about halfway done with the day but only about 2.5 hours, so I’m relying on this tea to get me home and cozied up with my kitten and my STASH of new teas.

A review of Organic Yerba Mate Tea by Guayaki

Company: Guayaki
Tea Name: Organic Yerba Mate
Tea Type/Varietal: Yerba Mate
Region: South American rainforest
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: very light green/light brown color
Leaf Characteristics:

1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 180 Fahrenheit
Time: 5 minutes

I turn to this tea once more and I am having it as my morning drink so it can help stimulate focus and clarity while boosting my energy. I take one tea bag and add the nearly boiled water to my cup and leave it to steep for five minutes.

Tea’s color is very light green/ light brown and hints of yerba mate for aroma. I mean I can smell there is something in my cup but no words really for me to describe as I am inexperience/don’t know.

I sip and sip the tea slowly while breathing in deeply the tea’s aroma; it is a mantra of sort as I sip and inhale and swish it around in my mouth than I swallow. I do this until tea is all gone.

2nd Steeping:
Water temperature: 190 Fahrenheit
Time: 10 minutes

I fixed yet another cup of this tea with longer steep for nearly 10 minutes. Tea color did not darken and the aroma is slightly stronger; it has a toasty aroma since brewed longer and hotter. And when I taste the tea this time it seems more robust mate flavoring. So I take a deep breath, then a sip of the tea while swooshing it in my mouth and then I swallow and exhale deeply. I do this until I finish drinking the tea.

What am I doing? I am having a relaxing cup of tea while meditating and incanting for peace with my surrounding environment which is most static and chaos seems to reign; while all seems quiet…but not.

I must say this is the most I have enjoyed partaking of this tea and I am thankful for the experience and the well-being feeling that comes from having drunk this tea. Thank you.

A review of Organic Yerba Mate by Guayaki

Date: 11/15/2012
Company: Guayaki
Tea Name: Yerba Mate
Tea Type/Varietal: Mate
Region: Rainforest of South America
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: dirty water/ brown
Leaf Characteristics: smells of dampness when steeping

1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 5 minutes

I went from having a very lively cup of tea this morning to having this Yerba Mate this afternoon. Tea boasts a rich and robust mate flavor, toasty aroma, and a balanced finish. I keep missing this whenever I have tried this tea since it simply is not there. I can say the tea is toasty, but unlike granules.

A review of Organic Yerba Mate by Guayaki
Date: 10/18/2012
Company: Guayaki
Tea Name: Organic Yerba Mate
Tea Type/Varietal: yerba mate
Region: South America
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: dark color/ dark like the forest at night
Leaf Characteristics:

1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 180 Fahrenheit
Time: 10 minutes

Note: I spent a good part of the day drinking this tea to find out what indeed it would do for me. What I notice with the longer steeps is that the color darkens and taste bitter at first and gradually one can taste the different herbs of this tea. Not so much different herbs but to realize that it is herbal tea, tea leaves but not camellia sinensis.

Yerba Mate is known as the most balanced tea in that it delivers both energy and nutrition; and a good reason to continue drinking this tea.

A review of Organic Yerba Mate by Guayaki

Date: 10/17/2012
Company: Guayaki
Tea Name: Organic Yerba Mate
Tea Type/Varietal: Herbal
Region: South America
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: golden yellow/ brownish
Leaf Characteristics:

1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 170 Fahrenheit
Time: 5 minutes

Note: I am finally trying this Yerba Mate tea this morning. I like that when I wake up in the morning I think to myself, well let me try this tea. I seem to want it is what I mean.

As instructed: place one tea bag in my cup and pour the hot water (not boiling) into my tea cup and leave it to steep for five minutes or longer. I am trying for five minutes.

Tea is very light after this first infusion. It does not smell like anything in particular at first and when sipping it either. I am drinking this tea and unfortunately I cannot discern anything to describe.

2nd Steeping:
Water temperature: 170 Fahrenheit
Time: 5+ minutes

Note: I put the tea bag back into my cup and add more of the hot water. Since the tea bag is immerse in the cup and left there, I notice that the tea is indeed darker and when sipping the tea, still, here is nothing in particular to describe. It is possible I do not know what to look for in tasting this Yerba Mate.

I plan on drinking this tea throughout the day as it is good for vitality; clarity and well being which I dearly want and need.

I am having tea but unsure of the taste since there seems to not be a taste?

My first fore into the world of yerba mate, and boy is it great! Earthy, naturally sweet, spicy, and strong! this tea has a rich creaminess from the cocoa even if you don’t add milk. The flavor and aroma linger on your lips and tongue in a fantastic way. It’s kind of like drinking a really delicious chocolate bar! Plus it is organic AND fair trade!

The troubles with the tea bags continue. With very little force I tugged on the tea tag to lift it out of the cup and the string pulled right out of the bag.

This is a really tasty way to drink your maté. My only complaint is that the tea bags themselves don’t lend themselves to squeezing. One time I squeezed the bag after steeping and it came open slightly, letting the contents escape into my mug. I don’t think I squeezed any harder than usual, but perhaps.

amazing, a staple for breakfest. love the taste and experince of drinking from the gourd

Went with Guayaki’s instructions on this, I think 150 is a little low though. Might try 175 next cup. I’ve had bagged mate before from this brand, but not their loose stuff. Adagio is the only other company I’ve had to compare to.

This wasn’t bad, I enjoyed it. Nice light herb flavor, I think I may steep longer next time. The full ten minutes sounds goods. I like my tea strong. :)

Backlogging! Made a cup of this at work and it was pretty much amazing. Deep chocolate flavor with a tad bit of spice. It always reminds me of warm chocolate milk. There is always a creamy, milky note to it. Honestly, probably one of my favorite mates.

This is SO good cold brewed. I was stuck at work with no hot water and in desperate need of an energy boost so I threw a few of these into my water bottle. At first it comes off as a spicy mate then the chocolate hits! It reminded me of chocolate milk but with a little bit of maltiness to it. DELICIOUS!!

I didn’t know what to expect when I bought this. But I really like it! It starts out as kind of a chai, cinnamon taste and goes into a chocolate/licorice taste. It’s actually REALLY good. Kind of a creamy taste. Very delicious! :]

Using the gourd today! For some reason Im getting more of a tobacco flavor than usual.. I love drinking out if my gourd :3

Enjoying this out of my gourd. The first steeps are so unbelievably strong but once you get to steep 3 or 4 it’s perfect. I wish someone was here to hang out with me so I could actually pass it around. I’ve always wanted to do that.

Guys. Baby ferrets are the cutest things. Mine keeps hopping around the kitchen attacking my feet…
But anyways… I’ve been so busy lately I finally have some time to just chill. Which is very nice. I’m still addicted to drinking out of my gourd(which is what I’m doing right now..). To be honest I don’t really like the first two gourd fulls. They’re just too strong in taste for me. But after that it’s perfect. :]