Today marks the first day of our deep dive into Uruguayan brands.

Uruguayan mate is a different world compared to other regions. I’ve reviewed a few in the past like Canarias, Sara, and Sara Suave, but that’s it out of my 60+ reviews. I focused a lot on Argentinian brands and it’s about time to expand.

There are tons of Uruguayan brands out there, and we’re kicking it off today with Baldo.

Baldo is produced by the same company as Canarias. And if you’ve read around, many have claimed Baldo to be the exact same as Canarias but in different packaging.

Their website doesn’t comment on this, but the descriptions for Baldo and Canarias are identical.

However, after giving it a try, these are not the same.

Newbies that have been burned by the strength of Canarias will find Baldo to be their new best friend.

Here’s why…

Nose

The nose of Baldo is intense. After giving it a little shake, I go for a whiff and I’m blasted with a strong aroma filled with bread, dough, and a sweet touch of raisin. Nothing unique, yet still a lovely smell that makes you wonder how yerba mate can smell so good. With the amount of dust, be careful with digging your nose inside the bag or it may sting a bit.

Taste

On my first sip of Baldo, I hate to admit it but it tasted exactly like Canarias. I was hopeful this wasn’t the case because it would feel like a waste of a review. But I can’t deny how similar they are. There are some differences though, however, very subtle.

During the first few refills, Baldo brings on the same smooth, balanced soil and earthy notes as Canarias. And like most Uruguayan brands, there’s that signature rich, maltiness you won’t find in other regions. A few more pours in and subtle hints of dark chocolate, salted peanuts, and sunflower seeds pop up here and there. The soil and earth also transition into a greener taste with a delicious distinct sweetness, similar to chimarrão. Compared to its big brother Canarias, Baldo is about 10% weaker in strength and body, and a lot easier on the palate. If there were to be a Canarias Suave, it would be Baldo. Nothing harsh, smoky, or astringent here.

I found this mate to do best in temps of 160-170ºF (71-76ºC), but any temp will work. Hotter temps bring out more of its strength, while lower temps bring out more of its sweetness.

Finish

On the finish, like Canarias, Baldo doesn’t have much to offer. Some of the soil and earthiness from before carry over along with its sweetness, but only lasts for about 30 seconds. Although nothing new, it’s still a pleasant taste.

Body/Texture

Baldo is a medium-to-full-bodied mate. Throughout the first few refills, this mate is rich, creamy, and a little gritty. But this fullness goes away rather quickly. From there, Baldo settles down into a medium body with a velvety texture that glides right off the palate. Astringency is surprisingly low here but can slowly build up over many refills, leaving your mouth feeling sticky but never over the top.

Cut

Baldo features a Uruguayan cut, specifically P.U.1 (Padrón Uruguayo 1 or Uruguayan Standard 1). This standard requires no less than 90% ground leaf and no more than 10% ground stem and is the type you’ll see in most Uruguayan brands like Canarias. Compared to Canarias, Baldo looks the exact same. Leaves are of a fine cut with most of them pulverized into dust, while a few splinter palos are found throughout the mix. Dust is abundant as expected. The yerba holds a nice color with many shades of light and dark greens and yellows.

When it comes to preparing this mate, you want to ensure you have a quality spoon bombilla. Any other type of bombilla is bound to get clogged. You also want to ensure you let the mountain of mate steep in hot water before inserting the bombilla so it can harden and solidify.

Cycle

Baldo features a long cycle that keeps on giving. Drinking this feels like it will never end. And considering it’s an Uruguayan brand, this should come as no surprise. If you’re going to drink Baldo, expect it to last 1 to 1.5 liters. If you don’t have the time or stomach for a long session, I’d suggest using a smaller gourd or less yerba. Either way, prepare accordingly because you’re going to be there for a while.

Effect

Typically, Uruguayan brands or any leaf-dominant brand (like sin palo versions) produce a stronger effect. And that holds true for this brand.

Drinking Baldo provides a smooth and gradual caffeine kick you’d typically experience with others. Enhanced focus and concentration. The effect can be felt almost instantly but it moves slowly. At first, it’s just a small sensation around your eyes. But then it expands throughout your entire body, producing the signature floaty-head feeling times two. It feels as if all your thoughts were emptied into the trash and nothing is left – just pure clarity. I found Baldo to lean more on the relaxation side of the spectrum as well. You won’t feel energized as much as you feel calm when drinking this mate.

This is definitely a brand you want to keep for mornings only. Any other time of day and you risk it interrupting your sleep. But use your best judgment.

Baldo Yerba Mate Review

Baldo is a solid mate I can drink every day for the rest of my life.

Compared to other Uruguayan brands, it’s not as complex or unique, but its strength and flavor are guaranteed to have you coming back.

If you’re not a fan of the boldness of Canarias, this is a fantastic alternative. It’s also a good choice for newbies to the Uruguayan world.

Soft, smooth, and full of flavor, don’t underestimate Baldo.

For some, this just might be what you’re looking for after being burned by Canarias.

If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, visit one of the links below now to grab a bag:

Amazon (US | UK | CA | ES | DE | FR)
Click Here To Get A 500g / 1lb Bag

PampaDirect (Worldwide)
Click Here To Get A 1000g / 1kg Bag

P.S. If you want to enjoy Uruguayan mate, check out our store for traditional torpedo gourds and more!