Lately, I’ve been going down the Suave aisle of yerba mate.
A few weeks ago, I reviewed Pipore Suave as well as Rosamonte Suave, and I instantly fell in love with both of them. Now today, I have Sara Extra Suave – a variation of the traditional Sara which I reviewed months ago – and I have high hopes.
The traditional blend wasn’t anything extraordinary, but it was a solid yerba with a reliable and friendly taste.
Now, with a suave version, I don’t know how much better it can get.
But let’s find out…
Nose
After carefully opening the blue bag (the red bag is the traditional version), I’m in love. No joke. Although this yerba smells like some other brands, this bag has that deliciously sweet aroma that you can almost eat. It’s filled with notes of thick berry jam and honey mixed together with its inherent grassiness and woodiness. Very pleasant.
Taste
Unlike other Suave brands I’ve tried that tasted almost completely different than the original, Sara Extra Suave keeps a lot of the same characteristics. But I must say, this one’s a lot milder and smoother than the original. It tastes almost the exact same but with half the strength.
On the first few sips, you’ll notice this mate has the same earthy/grassy taste as the original, but now with a prominent butter note. It tastes as if you were to lick a stick of butter. And strangely, it gives the mate a light and refreshing feel to it. At times throughout the mate, I also get these nice hints of peanut butter and figs which balance out the more woody, vegetal notes. And if you take the water temperature down a bit, you can even bring out some dark chocolate undertones which are fairly common among Uruguayan brands like Canarias and Fede Rico La Mejor. Overall, this yerba has a similar taste to Brazilian chimarrão and is almost exactly the same as its traditional version.
It also tastes great at almost any hot temperature. But the sweet spot I found was anywhere between 145-160ºF (63-71ºC). The lower the temp, the sweeter and fruitier it tastes. The higher the temp, the more earthy/nutty it tastes.
Finish
Sara Extra Suave has a clean, crisp finish which leaves a subtle nutty and grassy taste behind. But as you approach the halfway point of the mate, this stops. Instead, it gives your palate a cleansed and renewed feeling, preparing it to experience another sip of this delicious yerba.
Body/Texture
Sara Extra Suave is a medium-to-full-bodied mate. Powdery, grainy, and sandy, this mate is big on body when it comes to the initial refills. Dust particles and leave bits will inevitably coat your mouth, but I personally don’t mind it as it gives the mate some texture. It also doesn’t last long till it starts losing its body. From there, the rest of the mate is soft, smooth, and creamy.
Cut
Sara Extra Suave features a classic Uruguayan cut, but because it’s suave, this bag contains a noticeably higher percentage of stems for smoothing out the flavor. Every time I prepared this mate, I surprisingly also found a handful of seeds within the mountain of mate. Like the stems, I’m sure these were added to mellow its strength. As far as dust goes, there’s a high amount like with all Uruguayan brands.
Preparation can be difficult for beginners since the small particles can easily clog your bombilla. It’s recommended you use a high-quality spoon bombilla for this mate so you can mold the mountain to keep a smooth filtration going.
Cycle
Like most Uruguayan brands, Sara Extra Suave also has a long cycle. On the first couple of refills, you get to enjoy a strong brew. But this quickly mellows out and the strength stays steady for the rest of the mate’s duration. I can usually get around 3/4 to a full liter out of this yerba which is great.
Effect
In regard to effects, Sara Extra Suave is no different from any other brand.
Effects happen in an instant. I quickly feel a calm surge in my energy levels and clearing of my mind. Things start feeling lighter and more free-flowing, while my focus and attention are enhanced. My senses heighten and from there on out, it’s just smooth sailing for hours. I don’t feel negative side effects with this brand like I would with some others which is great.
Never overstimulating, Sara Extra Suave is a good mate for any time of the day. Whether it’s to sit down and get work done or lay back and relax, this will help get the job done.
Sara Extra Suave Review
If you’re looking for another reliable mate from the people of Sara, you will not be disappointed.
In fact, I like the suave better than the traditional.
Although quite similar, Sara Extra Suave is much more complex in flavor.
Almost every time I prepare this mate, I taste notes I didn’t taste before. And that’s enough to keep me coming back for more.
If you liked Sara Traditional, then I’m sure you’ll find this just as good if not better.
See for yourself by visiting one of the links below now!
Amazon (US | UK | CA | ES | DE | FR)
Click Here To Get A 1000g / 1kg Bag
PampaDirect (Worldwide)
Click Here To Get A 1000g / 1kg Bag
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