This is my third review/taste-test coming from the brand La Merced.
In the past, I’ve tried their De Campo and Barbacuá version. And to say the least, La Merced De Monte is completely different. In fact, I haven’t tried any mate that tasted like this one before.
And that could be due to where this yerba is grown.
As it states on the box, this mate is grown in mountainous areas of the subtropical forest at high temperatures on fertile soil and with lots of rain.
In today’s review, you’re about to discover what La Merced De Monte tastes like, smells like, looks like, and much more. So by the time you finish reading, you’ll know for sure whether this is the mate for you.
Let’s start!
Nose
Straight out of La Merced’s classic box and aluminum packaging, this mate releases a beautiful aroma. Notes of dried raisins and blueberries, cereal, honey, and some smoke/ash gracefully rise from the bag. And as you’re about to find out, some of these notes translate onto its taste.
Taste
De Monte is nothing like its related versions. The box describes its taste as vigorous, with slight bitter notes that reflect its jungle origin. And I can agree. This mate contains a bitter floral note that jumps at you the moment you take a sip. However, it’s not slight, but, strong. I’ve been drinking mate for years, and even for me, it’s quite harsh.
The bitterness is earthy with prominent undertones of ash, wet cardboard, and cement. It reminds me of most Uruguayan yerba mate brands with its strength and flavor profile, but it especially reminds me of this one brand in particular – Fede Rico La Mejor. Once you move into the halfway point though, the flavors start to lighten up. The bitterness dies down and notes of figs, grass, and wood shine through, making the second half a lot more enjoyable.
I found this mate to do best in temperatures of around 140-150ºF (60-66ºC). The lower you go, the less bitter and the more fruity. And the hotter, the more ashy and harsh.
Finish
In the first half, La Merced De Monte has a bland finish. It gives you nothing to play with, which is surprising. You would think a mate with such a strong taste would leave something behind, but it doesn’t. However after a good few refills, a nice nuttiness and toffee and tobacco note start to emerge in the aftertaste, but quickly disappears.
Body/Texture
De Monte is a medium bodied mate. Slightly heavy on the palate with a lot of texture to it. This mate is possibly the creamiest mate I’ve ever had thus far. Each sip is velvety smooth and spreads a soft coating throughout your entire palate. And unlike some mates, De Monte also doesn’t dry out your mouth. Instead, it feels a bit hydrating. If you brew this at higher temps than what I recommended earlier, the body and texture is even more pronounced.
Cut
De Monte has an Argentine cut, and is similar to its other versions. The blend consists mostly of finely-cut leaves, thick white palos, and very little dust. When preparing, it barely leaves an imprint of dust on your palm. Some leaves and stems are also burned to a dark brown or tan color. But overall, the blend has a nice uniform olive green color. Because the mate is mostly leaves, the mountain of mate can easily slide around. But with a good bombilla, you won’t experience any problems.
Cycle
De Monte features a medium cycle. It starts off quite strong, then takes it down a notch the rest of the way for a more pleasant ride. On average, I can consume around 3/4 to a full liter of mate before it starts to taste like nothing at all.
Effect
In regards to effect, don’t expect anything too crazy with this mate.
La Merced De Monte isn’t the one to get you energized or hyper. No. Instead, it likes to keep you at bay by mellowing you out. Expect time to slow, deeper breaths, your focus to improve, and your body to relax. Smooth and calming, I enjoy this mate most when I’m reading, writing, unwinding, or any other tasks that doesn’t require much physical movement.
It’s a great any-time-of-the-day mate as it’s not very stimulating.
La Merced De Monte Yerba Mate Review
I’ll admit, when I first started drinking this mate, I wasn’t a big fan of it.
But as I continued to drink it everyday for the sake of this review, I’m really starting to love it.
Like mate in general, La Merced De Monte is almost an acquired taste in and of itself. At least for me. It took some getting used to. But once I did, this mate showcased a range of different flavors and notes.
Personally, I love a complex mate.
One where you taste this or that on the first sip, then something new on the next.
And if you’re like me, then you’re sure to love this mate as well.
If you want to grab a bag today, click one of the links below now!
Amazon (US | UK | CA | ES | DE | FR)
Click Here To Get A 500g / 1.1lb Bag
PampaDirect (Worldwide)
Click Here To Get A 500g / 1.1lb Bag
Un-Mate (Europe – 10% OFF Order)
Click Here To Get A 500g / 1.1lb Bag
P.S. If you enjoyed this review, you might also want to check out our store to grab the gourds and bombillas (and more) used in this post!