Chimarrao is one of my favorite yerbas to drink.

It’s a nice switch from the typical Argentinian mates.

The only problem is there aren’t many brands to choose from (at least here in the United States).

However, I found one a few weeks ago on Amazon that caught my attention – Madrugada.

Now, I’ve never heard anything about this brand before. And I’ve rarely heard anyone else talk about it either. Whether I should’ve taken that to mean Madrugada is a bad brand, or a hidden gem, I had to find out myself.

And in this Madrugada Erva Mate Review, you’ll discover which it is…

Nose

To the nose, Madrugada is like any other chimarrao brand. Notes of fresh cut grass and a hint of sweetness is found. Even when brewed in my gourd, it smells the same as in the bag except warmer of course.

Taste

This erva mate tastes exactly how it smells. But it doesn’t taste much different from other chimarrao brands. I’ve reviewed Ximango in the past, and I can barely tell the difference between the two. I still need to try more brands, but as of now, I think all chimarrao tastes exactly alike.

But nonetheless, Madrugada contains components of grass, butter, and an overall earthiness. Drinking this brings up images of walking through the Amazon Rainforest.

The taste is very pleasant and easygoing. No harshness or smokiness. If you’re a beginner looking to get into chimarrao, this is a great choice.

Finish

Throughout the entire experience of Madrugada, you get a full blast of fresh grass. From the moment you sip to the moment you swallow, it’s the same all around. You might notice just a tiny hint of cream, but it’s not much.

Body/Texture

Madrugada has a light-to-medium body. Not too watery, but not thick either. It’s almost like a light cream or low-fat milk.

Cycle

Chimarrao tends to have a medium-to-long cycle and that includes Madrugada. I can finish up to one liter (sometimes a little more) in the gourd pictured in this review. Especially when you prepare it correctly and switch the erva to the other half of the gourd.

Cut

Madrugada, like any other chimarrao, is mostly composed of a vibrant green dust with leaves and palos sprinkled here and there. Classic Brazilian erva mate.

Preparation can be difficult for beginners. But with time, it gets easy.

Effect

Similar to its body and taste, the effect Madrugada gives is nothing crazy.

Although Madrugada literally means early morning, it’s a nice morning, evening, and nighttime drink.

It won’t have you energized, but it will have you calmed and relaxed. It’s something you want to drink when you’re winding down. The caffeine content is nowhere near the amount found in other brands from Argentina, Paraguay, or Uruguay.

This is good news for those sensitive to caffeine, but bad news for those looking to get a kick.

Keep in mind though, I’ve built up a tolerance for caffeine. So these effects might be different for you.

I like to drink Madrugada whenever I’m lounging around and sometimes when I do work.

Madrugada Erva Mate Review

If you’re looking to try chimarrao (or erva mate), you only have a select few to choose from if you’re from the United States like I am.

Madrugada is one of them and is an excellent and safe choice.

Fresh cut grass, light, and sweet.

There’s nothing outstanding, and there’s nothing bad about it. Just a classic, crowd-pleasing mate.

The only thing that might get in the way is preparing it. But if you know how to prepare chimarrao correctly, you shouldn’t have a problem.

If you’re into chimarrao and want to try a classic one,

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P.S. If you enjoyed this review of Madrugada, you might also want to check out our store for exclusive mate gourds and bombillas.