Which Mate Should You Choose? The Complete Guide

It's difficult to choose your mate when you don't know much about it. The selection is vast, and the differences aren't always obvious.

So, if you want to buy mate , but you don't know which mate to choose , we have written this article for you.

1. How to choose your mate: The different criteria to take into account

Rather than directly telling you which mate to choose, let's start with the information you need to consider to make the right choice.

1.1 - Criterion #1: The type of mate

Did you know that there are several types of mate? Here are the three main ones:

• Green mate is unripened mate, and the oxidation has been stopped immediately after harvesting. It has a milder taste than ripened mate, and is the type of mate recommended for anyone new to mate . It is also the type of mate often sold by health food stores and tea brands.
• Refined mate is a mate that is aged for 3 to 24 months to intensify its taste and effects. It is generally stronger, and is the type of mate that is used by the vast majority of traditional mate brands (Taragui, Canarias, Amanda, Pajarito, Kraus, Rosamonte, Kurupi...). We do not recommend this type of mate for beginners , because the taste is very strong, and the grind is traditionally very fine (more difficult to prepare).
• Roasted mate is a mate that undergoes an additional step: roasting. It has a caramelized flavor, similar to cocoa and coffee. It is a very unusual type of mate that is still relatively unknown.

Other criteria may be taken into account, but we will not detail them here, as the article would be too long.

If you want to know more, here is an article that talks about it in detail: Everything you need to know about the taste of mate

1.2 - Criterion #2: Packaging

Very important, the size of your mate bag.

If you want to drink your mate the traditional way, forget about 200g bags or smaller . You'll finish them very quickly, and they could cost you a lot (small bags often have very high prices per kilo). We recommend opting for 500g bags , a packaging that is standard for most well-known mate brands.

On the other hand, if you intend to consume your mate as a traditional infusion, a small 100-200g bag may do the trick, since you will only use a few grams per cup. But a 500g bag (or more) will always be more economical.

1.3 - Criterion #3: The legitimacy of the brand (to sell mate)

As mate has grown in popularity, more and more tea brands are starting to offer mate. But be careful, most tea brands are not mate brands .

Although mate looks similar to tea, they are two very different plants, both in terms of price and consumption. This means that many tea brands and distributors tend to sell mate:

1. Like tea : In small packaging and with a grind not suitable for drinking in a gourd. It's fine for drinking from a tea ball or prepared with a teapot. But it's not at all suitable for preparing traditional mate.
2. With a prohibitive price per kg : Much higher than the prices of "real" brands of mate.

2. Which mate to choose according to your needs

First of all, we don't believe there is a " best mate ." We all have different tastes and needs.

But now that we have explained the main things to take into account when choosing your mate , we are going to give you some recommendations so that you can choose the mate that suits you best .

2.1 - Which mate should you choose to start with?

If you have never drunk mate before, and you want to discover this drink, but:

• You're afraid the taste will be too strong for you.
• You still want a "real" mate.

We recommend you choose: Original Mate .

Original Mate is our best-selling mate. It's a unique green mate .

It has a slight powder ("polvo") and stem content, giving it a texture close to traditional yerba mate. But it has been cultivated in a special way, making its taste much less strong than classic mates.

Its taste, halfway between tea and coffee, is balanced. It is the perfect mate to take your first steps with this drink .

2.2 - Which flavored mate should I choose?

• You drink mate and you want to discover new flavors.
• You want to discover mate, but you are looking for flavored mate, because you are afraid of not liking the taste of traditional mate.

We recommend you choose: Ginger-Lemon Mate .

Ginger-Lemon Mate is one of our most popular mates. Absolutely everyone loves this fresh and tangy mate.

But if you don't like ginger, we recommend two other fresh and fruity alternatives:

• THE Mint Mate
• THE Peach Mate

2.3 - Which mate should you choose to vary the flavors?

• Do you drink mate regularly and are you looking for an unusual mate, different from the popular mates? A mate for a change?

We recommend you choose: The Roasted Mate .

Roasted mate is a very unusual mate, which is found in almost no stores.

It is a mate with a caramelized taste and notes of cocoa.

2.4 - Which traditional mate should you choose?

• Have you been drinking mate for a long time and are you looking for a mate with a powerful and sophisticated taste?
• Do you like traditional mate and are you looking for an authentic mate with a very fine cut?

We recommend you choose: Intense Maté .

Intense Mate is a refined mate, cut very thinly and without any stems. Its flavor is powerful and it is the favorite of our customers who have been drinking mate for a long time.

On the other hand, its very fine (almost powdery) texture can make it difficult to prepare in the traditional way for someone who is not used to it. It is therefore a mate that we do not recommend for someone who just wants to get started with mate.