I’ve been putting this off for awhile…

… a Guayaki Yerba Mate Review.

Why?

Because if you read my last post, you’ll know that I tend to stay away from these types of yerba mate brands that aren’t native to South America.

And this includes Guayaki.

Even though they source from Brazil, they’re based in the United States.

I can’t tell you exactly why I stay away from these brands, but my instinct always tells me to.

Luckily, I didn’t listen to it this time.

So after years of drinking solely South American yerba mate, I finally decided to grab myself an 8oz bag of their loose-leaf yerba.

Besides, who knows what I could’ve missed out on if I continued to look past it?

Now, here’s my full Guayaki Yerba Mate Review…

Taste Of Guayaki Yerba Mate Traditional

Before I get into all the details about Guayaki itself (since they’re more than just a company that sells yerba), let me get into the heart of this review first – the taste.

Before trying Guayaki, I didn’t have high hopes for it.

As popular as it is in the United States (which I’m located in), it never appealed to me. I expected it to be very different from the usual traditional brands I love.

And in some ways, I was wrong.

Guayaki’s Traditional Yerba Mate, like the name says, is similar to traditional brands (e.g. Pajarito, Cruz De Malta, and Canarias). It keeps the normal earthy and soil-like notes. But leans a bit more towards the grassy, herbaceous side.

But where I was right in Guayaki being different is it doesn’t have a strong taste.

And this can be because most people, especially in North America who has never tried mate before, aren’t accustomed to its inherent strength. Whereas someone like me who loves South American mate, can bask in its robust bitterness.

After all, it’s what separates yerba mate from most teas.

Unfortunately though, Guayaki lacks that ‘oomph’.

It’s light to medium in body. Lasts a short to average amount of time. And is a bit bland. Nothing jumps out to me.

But with the novice palates of North America being their main customer, this is perfect for a beginner getting into yerba mate.

Guayaki Yerba Mate Is Also Smooth

One of my favorite things to find in a brand of yerba mate is how smooth its texture is – how it feels in my mouth.

And Guayaki fits the bill on this one.

As I took a sip from my gourd, I filled my mouth to the roof with mate. Then, as I swished it around to experience its flavors, I noticed how light and almost watery it feels. Very pleasant and easy on the palate.

The finish is even better though…

After swallowing the mate, you’re left with a creamy, slight chalky feel in your mouth with a hint of milk notes.

But the best thing of all about Guayaki is its effects…

Effects Of Guayaki Yerba Mate Traditional

As lackluster as Guayaki may be in flavor, it makes up for in effect.

A quick heads-up though…

(Click Here To Get This Bombilla)

It may be just me, but to experience the natural energy boost from Guayaki, I needed a larger gourd. A smaller one didn’t do much justice. But of course, test it for yourself to see what meets your needs.

Now although this yerba won’t have you jumping off the walls in minutes, it will get you in the groove of things to start your day.

As much as you may have heard that mate doesn’t produce the same jittery effects as coffee, it does, just not as often. I’d be lying if I said I never felt anxious or restless after drinking it. But with Guayaki, this has never happened.

I don’t know what it is (maybe it has less caffeine than the traditional South American brands), but it’s amazing.

It hits the sweet spot right in between too energized and too weak.

Guayaki provides a well-balanced effect of energy, focus, euphoria, and relaxation, making it great for any occasion.

And this could be because of how it’s grown and processed…

Guayaki’s Yerba Mate

There are several things about Guayaki that’s different from most traditional brands.

The first being, it’s USDA-certified organic and non-GMO.

Guayaki yerba mate consists mostly of leaves and stems, very little dust content

This means their yerba is completely free from pesticides and herbicides.

Guayaki has also taken measures to ensure a lower PAH content in their yerba.

PAH is a carcinogenic compound that has been found in most brands due to their smoke-drying process. But with Guayaki Traditional Yerba Mate in particular, their tests have shown a much lower PAH level compared to traditionally smoked brands because only some of their yerba is smoke-dried, while most of it is air-dried.

The last thing Guayaki does differently is they only harvest shade-grown yerba.

They claim yerba grown under direct sunlight can make them taste more bitter. Which is why they only pick the stems and leaves that are grown in the shade.

Now I don’t know how true this is, but from the taste of it, it seems so.

Guayaki Yerba Mate Review

Guayaki is more than just yerba mate.

Their company is the only company taking massive strides to make a change in the ecosystem as well as people’s lives.

With a mission to steward and restore 200,000 acres of rain-forest and create over 1,000 living-wage jobs by 2020, you can now understand why it’s the most popular yerba mate brand in the United States…

When you order from Guayaki, you’re not just buying a pack of yerba mate to drink…

You’re making an impact on the world. You’re saving the destruction of rain-forests. You’re protecting the environment by supporting a zero-waste, environmentally-friendly company. And with their Fair For Life fair-trade program, you’re providing a better life for the farmers behind the yerba your drinking.

It’s a win-win for everyone and everything.

And you’ll know this first-hand once you experience Guayaki’s clean mellow-tasting yerba mate.

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P.S. If you enjoyed this Guayaki yerba mate review, you might also want to check out our store for exclusive gourds, bombillas, and more.