A few years I ago I had an excess number of bags of El Moncayo Companera.

(To be clear, this is not the El Moncayo you’ll find online that are all compuestas. This is the traditional bag that now seems to be discontinued and impossible to find anywhere.)

And during that time, I would drink it every day in the morning, in a rush, before I had to head out the door. And I can vividly remember thinking to myself,

“Damn, this tastes good.”

Back then, I never sat down and dived into the notes or really paid much attention to the flavor. It was just something I was making because I had so much of it. But even just drinking it in passing, it made me look forward to drinking it each morning.

Fast forward to today, I still have 3 bags left that I’ve been working through and now, I can appreciate it even more.

This is what I’ve found…

Nose

As I opened the bag, I had to be real careful with giving it a whiff. Because even just the slightest shake, brings out a huge cloud of dust. So with a gentle sniff, I get a beautiful aroma that’s slightly smokey, woody, and sweet. Like some yerbas, it also has this cereal and jam note that smells all too familiar.

Taste

On the first few sips of El Moncayo, I can immediately tell that this one was different. We’re not talking about your typical Uruguayan, Canarias-like yerba here. This brand takes a huge step out of the norm and is unlike all the other ones I’ve tried which boosts it high up in my personal rankings.

To start, this yerba doesn’t pack a punch like you’d expect. It’s not as bitter or sharp, but the flavor is still intense. Immediately, I get hit with a whole wheat bread note mixed with milk and some florals. An unusual combination I haven’t experienced before in any brand, but it works. It’s creamy, smooth, and comforting. But after a couple refills in, things start to get even more interesting. This buttery popcorn-like taste appears and it sealed the deal for me. It’s so subtle, but every time I happen to get it on my palate, it’s like hitting the lottery. It’s an unusually nice flavor that complements the natural earthiness. Getting near the end, vegetal notes and some woods and cream come in to help finish off the mate.

I found El Moncayo to do pretty well in any temp but around 160ºF was the sweet spot for me that allowed all the flavors to bloom.

Finish

On the finish, El Moncayo does not let up. Some grass, wood, and sweet tobacco notes linger for about 10-20 seconds before disappearing. It’s smooth but also leaves your palate slightly dry, making you want to take another sip to hydrate again. Although slightly astringent, this isn’t enough to bother me.

Body/Texture

El Moncayo is a medium-to-full bodied mate. Not something you commonly find in a Uruguayan yerba but something about this doesn’t produce as much texture as others. It’s a lot smoother and goes down easy. Don’t get me wrong though, it’s still fuller than Argentine yerbas. But compared to Uruguayan brands, it could almost be a sauve, which is likely due to the cut.

Cut

El Moncayo features a traditional P.U.1 Uruguayan cut. But there is something slightly different. This yerba seems to have a lot more noticeable stems and larger leaves. The dust content is definitely still there though. Whenever I pour some into my gourd, big clouds of dust fly straight out first. then the leaves. But this doesn’t seem to pose any issues when preparing. It’s similar to other Uruguayan yerbas. The larger quantity of white stems probably help with that. Overall, when taking a closer look, it’s an unusual cut for a Uruguayan brand, but is probably what makes it taste/feel a little different.

Cycle

As usual, El Moncayo features a long cycle, but not as long as some Uruguayan brands. Which again, makes sense given the cut isn’t as fine. In an average-sized gourd, I’m easily getting at least a liter of water. Strength-wise, however, it takes a pretty strong dip after a few refills as the strength and body soften out. But the presence of its flavor is still very much there.

Effect

When it comes to effect, we’re looking at a typical experience you’d get from most yerbas. Calm and gradual increase in focus and attention. The signature floaty-head sensation is there but slightly milder. Compared to other Uruguayan brands, this doesn’t give too much of an energy boost. But compared to Argentine yerbas, it’s likely a step up. But as always, your tolerance may vary. For me, this is a yerba to sit down with and unwind to. Maybe some reading, writing, or any other light/calm activity. This helps me stay focused but also at ease.

El Moncayo Companera Traditional Review

Having completed another kilo of El Moncayo, it’s easily one of my all-time favorite yerbas.

Definitely top 3 in all the Uruguayan brands I’ve tried. Even better than the popular Canarias.

But like I mentioned earlier, this yerba is now nowhere to be found online. Even their website doesn’t show this yerba – only their compuestas – which to me, says that this yerba is now discontinued.

However, there is now a El Moncayo Organica that still hasn’t reached the US markets yet. Maybe that tastes similar?

We’ll see.

But for now, this yerba will forever live on in my heart.

P.S. If you enjoyed this review and need some new mate gear, check out our shop for exclusive gourds and bombillas!