Peppermint Yerba Mate

I really did not think I would like this as much as I do. I mean, I like peppermint ok. I like yerba mate ok. But these two are made for each other! The peppermint makes the yerba mate taste better and vice versa! The earthy and bitter qualities of the mate go together so well with the crisp flavor of the peppermint. There is a natural sweetness to this that is so pleasant.

I am drinking this in my Libre Mug, which has become my “gourd” and “bombilla” all in one.

I like this one! Then again, I don’t think there has been any tea/tisane that I’ve disliked from Samovar…

Wow. Yeah, mate and I? Not gonna mesh. This is kind of like drinking a mint-flavored reed mat. This shows though how sweet Samovar’s Sweet Yerba Mate is. Because this? Not sweet. The tasting notes say bittersweet and I’ll agree. It’s not bitter like an oversteeped tea but there is a certain something to it that made me think of bitterness, maybe in a herbal/nature-y way. Nothing bad, just really unexpected.

I admit it, I made a face when I took the first sip (unexpected, you know). But each sip after that got easier and by the end of my cup, I was okay with this tea. Well, okay-ish. It still tastes like a mint-flavored reed mat but I will say that the mint is quite nice in this – and I’m saying that as a not so big fan of mint. So for those that mesh well with mate, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say this is a pretty tasty one, at least with how the mint blends with it. There’s no raw or rough herbal edge to it. So it’s a very smooth reed mat. I just notice it has eucalyptus in it so that might be contributing to the smooth blend. (And maybe it’ll help me with my stuffy sinuses.)

Anyway, certainly different but likable for a mate. Overall I prefer it more than the Sweet Yerba Mate because this doesn’t make me think of a commune with goats.

Now this is a great yerba mate blend for summer (and much better than that vile licorice-mate blend I had yesterday)…The grassy flavor of the mate dulls the sharpness of the peppermint and the peppermint dulls the grassy flavor of the mate. This is heaven and full of caffeine…perfect chilled

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml filtered water 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: STRONG peppermint, then a little vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: mild peppermint, hint of vegetal
Flavor: vegetal, sweet, peppermint
Body: Light
Aftertaste: tingly, vegetal
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

I do not like grassy teas or yerba mate, but this one I found drinkable thanks to the peppermint. It’s kind of soothing actually.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/10/samovar-loose-leaf-mate-tea-peppermint.html

As part of the 4 Hour Work week pack of Yerba Mate, I’m trying out the Mate with Peppermint.
First sip and this tea made me smile – there’s something about the smell of peppermint that makes me smile – it’s so refreshing. The peppermint really cuts the haystack-like taste Mate naturally has. With the many benefits of mate paired with the peppermint flavor it’s going to be very difficult to not drink this everyday.

Wow.

Wooow.

I mean, I love peppermint and all, but this is crazy. This is my third (and final) Yerba Mate from Samovar, and what a way to top it off. I’m going to have to experiment with this more to get more of the Yerba Mate flavour out (the peppermint is overpowering, but I’m not chalking that as a complaint because I love the stuff).

That’s really all that can be said at this time. I’m just enjoying this one.

Soft texture, rising pepermint flavor to a smooth end. Naturally sweet but yet nothing similar to an overly sugared peppermint candy.