This has been an extremely long time coming. I’ve been wanting to try Canarias Edición Especial since the first few months I ever started drinking mate.

And to be honest, it wasn’t for any other reason than its packaging.

To me, it screams royalty, strength, and luxury. Like the feeling of pouring yourself a fine glass of red or carefully toasting the foot of a hand-rolled Cuban cigar – this mate is one to be cherished and savored.

Canarias Edición Especial is made from selected leaves from the forests of Brazil in the states Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Rio Grande Do Sul. Only the best of the best is used to produce this mate.

It’s also aged for a longer period of time to produce a softer, more complex flavor profile.

This mate has always piqued my interest and today is the day I get to finally give it a go.

So without further ado, let’s dive in.

Nose

After opening Canarias Edición Especial’s regal packaging, a strong pungent smell is released. A heavy vegetal note is combined with rich soil and fresh woods to produce a classic yerba mate aroma, but on steroids.

Taste

My first sip of Canarias Edición Especial was an ooh, ahh moment. Instantly, I’m reminded of Canarias Tradicional and can easily tell they’re related. But then something else kicks in, making me realize they’ve created an entirely different beast.

Canarias Edición Especial opens up with their signature rich earthiness and grassiness found in both Canarias and their cousin brand, Baldo. And of course, this wouldn’t be an Uruguayan brand without a strong maltiness. Robust notes of toasted bread and almond butter dominate the palate in the first few refills. But as you get deeper into the mate, it transitions into this watered-down black coffee taste which specifically reminds me of Café Bustelo K-Cups. Tagging along are also these short-lived masculine tones of tobacco and leather. At the end of each sip as well, there’s a distinct cherry/grape tartness hiding in the back from start to finish.

I found this mate to do best in temps around 160-170ºF (71-77ºC). This gives the mate that strength and maltiness I’m looking for that lower temps can’t.

Finish

On the finish, Canarias Edición Especial has little to offer, keeping up with the theme of its sibling brands. With such a complex flavor profile, I was expecting a little more here. But all it leaves is some of the fruity tartness from before with a light bitterness on the back of the tongue.

Body/Texture

Like most Uruguayan brands, Canarias Edición Especial is another full-bodied mate. Each sip features a creamy heaviness with a slight graininess that you can instantly feel weigh down on your palate. Astringency can also build up leaving your mouth feeling dry and constricted. But after reaching around the halfway point, it simmers down to a medium body that’s smooth and soft all the way into the end.

Cut

Canarias Edición Especial features the classic P.U.1 Uruguayan cut we’re most familiar with. Compared to the traditional Canarias, you can barely tell the difference. Small, uniformly cut leaves fill a majority of the bag, while palos are all crushed into thin sticks that appear almost invisible at first glance. Meanwhile, the heavy dust content coats everything in a light powder.

Like most Uruguayan cuts, preparation is a little tougher and requires a quality spoon bombilla for proper filtration. You also need to remember to steep the yerba for an extra few minutes before finally placing in your bombilla. The more the mountain of mate is solidified, the better.

Cycle

Canarias Edición Especial, as expected, features a long cycle like most Uruguayan brands. Refill after refill, this mate’s strength is steady during nearly the entire session. It’s not until you reach about half a liter does it start to dwindle down.

Effect

If you’ve had the chance to try a few Uruguayan brands already, you know you’re in for a kick. And Canarias Edición Especial won’t let you down either.

The moment you take your first few sips, your mind is already moving before you can even refill your gourd. However, once felt, it stabilizes and gradually increases your level of focus and concentration so it doesn’t feel like it’s all coming on at once. A sense of calm and relaxation is also there to keep you at bay. But that floaty-head sensation is strong with this one and I personally love it. For those more sensitive to caffeine, this might be a little strong so be cautious. This can easily take you over the top with some jitters compared to other brands.

Obviously, I wouldn’t suggest drinking this any other time of day except in the morning. With such a strong effect, it’s guaranteed to keep you up at night.

Canarias Edición Especial Review

Canarias Edición Especial is a brand with enough character to separate it from your typical Uruguayan mates.

If you’re thinking it’s the same as the traditional, you’ll be surprisingly mistaken.

When I drink Uruguayan brands I’m looking for that strong yet smooth taste, but Canarias Edición Especial is a little dry.

The aging of this mate opens up new flavors and textures, but an astringency is born as well that wasn’t found in its other lines of yerba. But it’s nothing to make me back off it. The complexity of this mate makes up for any negatives.

If this sounds like a mate you would enjoy, visit the links below now to grab a bag:

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

P.S. If you enjoyed this review, check out our shop for traditional Uruguayan gourds to pair with your Uruguayan mate.