Especial Yerba Mate

The smokiest mate I’ve had yet. Careful with the steep time on this one it can become very bitter. Have yet to try it tereré styled with cold water instead of hot and infusing it with various herbs and citrus juices

One of my favorites!

Amigo, how have I missed you! Its been 5 kilos since we met. Remember the times you revived me those many mornings with a calm smoky buzzed assurance. We drank all day. Its hard to believe those many pubmed articles on your PAH levels, but I really had to move onto tea for my health. My gourd is empty but your company will always be mi corazon.

Rosamonte is one of the pillars of the yerba mate world, and their Seleccion Especial is arguably the best expression of the brand. It’s said to be one of the smokiest major brands.

The leaf cut is fairly large, with a moderate amount of powder and stick. The stick is pretty varied in size, from short, fat pieces to long and slender ones.

It smells like, well, mate. Hard to pull many notes from nosing it.

Flavor-wise, Rosamonte is dominated by heavy notes of smoke, earth, and tobacco. The smoke is interesting — it’s a little more ethereal than the smoke of, say, a lapsang souchong or an Islay scotch. A hint of salt comes through, with a slightly sour finish that seems to last forever.

This is a heavy, hard-hitting mate that works best hot. I’ve tried it terere, but it didn’t have the brighter notes you find in Paraguayan brands, so it tastes a bit flat.

lotsa caffeine. couldn’t sleep

The flavor is deep and rich, with an aroma which reminds me of a good pipe tobacco. Some bitterness, as I’d expect in any substantial yerba mate. This has stems included. Some mate drinkers claim that the stem has more theobromine than the leaf, and that consequently yerba ‘con palo’ (with stems) produces more euphoria in the drinker. I’ve not been drinking YM long enough to have an opinion about stems. I bought a kilo of this, and I’m glad I did. Really energizing, and in a good way.