I haven’t been impressed by a yerba in a very long time, but this one takes the cake.
If you think Uruguayan yerbas all taste the same, Armino Clasica will change your mind.
This has some notes and flavors that I don’t find in too many yerbas. It’s also not as in-your-face with it either. This lays notes on your palate gently, one by one.
After finishing more than a kilo at this point (I had 3 bags), I can say that it might be a contender for a permanent spot on my yerba shelf.
Here’s what it’s all about..
Nose
To the nose, Armino Clasica is so delightful that I can’t stop sniffing it. It’s filled with a strong soil-like, hay aroma and a bit of smokiness. But along with that is this lovely sweet note that reminds me of brown sugar and jam. It’s amazing.
Taste
I’ll admit, this one was tough to figure out flavor-wise. There’s a lot going on and it was a bit hard to put my finger on the exact notes. It also doesn’t help that this mate also likes to change how it tastes every now and then so the notes might seem all over the place.
But like most yerbas, Armino Clasica has that typical malty richness you find in most Uruguayan yerbas, but it shows up a bit differently here. On the first few sips, Armino has an oat/grain-like taste that is very prominent throughout the entire mate, giving it a nutty and slightly sweet flavor. And it’s this, that makes it so delicious to me. It reminds me of taking a bite out of a lightly toasted whole wheat bread.
But with a few more refills, it slowly shows a floral note that seamlessly blends in, while a unique spice also joins the party. The spice sort of reminds me of chai or maybe more specifically, nutmeg. It’s very subtle but sits on the palate behind each sip. At times, the flavor profile can lean almost towards a cappuccino. Maybe it’s the florals combined with a new cream note. Whatever it is, this yerba is anything but boring.
I found it to do best in 150ºF (66ºC). Any higher and the subtle notes in the second half don’t show up as much. Any lower, and it’s just not strong enough.
Finish
On the finish, Armino Clasica leaves a slight herbal note accompanied by a citrusyness that reminds me of black pepper. This finish lasts for about 30 seconds, but it doesn’t just appear immediately after a few sips. Instead, it builds up over a couple refills.
Body/Texture
As you can expect, Armino Clasica is a medium-to-full-bodied mate, which I love. The beginning sips have a strong heavy cream-like texture with a bit of graininess. But this fullness dies down quickly after a few refills, which is why it’s not 100% full-bodied, but it’s as smooth as ever. Very similar to Canarias. Astringency is kept to a minimum with no harshness. Well-rounded and balanced.
Cut
Armino Clasica features your classic Uruguayan cut. It’s fine, powdery, and with a decent amount of visible stems for a Uruguayan brand. Among the bed of light green leaves and dust, are bone-white stems sprinkled all throughout. Leaves are, for the most part, uniform in size with just a few larger ones that stick out. And powder content is what you can typically expect. Preparation will require a good spoon bombilla for proper filtration.
Cycle
Armino Clasica features a long cycle and strength. From the beginning until maybe a bit past the halfway point, this yerba just produces tons of flavor. I don’t even have to touch the mountain until a long way from the start. In an average-sized gourd, I can easily finish past 1 liter, maybe one and a half. Perfect for those well-needed longer sessions.
Effect
When I drink Armino Clasica, I’m not hit with a crazy amount of energy. But there is a noticeable boost that comes in pretty fast from the start.
The usual focus, energy, and concentration are there without ever being over the top. This yerba also gives me that floaty-head sensation with a warm feeling around my eyes. Overall, this yerba makes me feel good to put it simply. Maybe the mood-boosting effects are stronger in this one. For me, this is a yerba to kick back and relax to. The flavor is soothing and comforting.
I’ve had this yerba during the evening with no problem, but your mileage may vary. Maybe afternoon at the latest.
Armino Clasica Yerba Mate Review
Like I said in the beginning, it’s been a long time since I’ve tasted a yerba that was really good.
And by good, I don’t just mean its flavor, but also the cycle, strength, and low astringency. Armino Clasica checks off all the boxes for me.
The taste is unique and unlike most Uruguayan brands, which can all be a bit too similar to one another. But the biggest plus, is there’s little to no astringency. This makes for a super smooth mate and it’s those types that I enjoy the most.
If you want to give it a try, click one of the links below now:
Amazon (US | UK | CA | ES | DE | FR)
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PampaDirect (Worldwide)
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P.S. If you enjoyed this review, you might want to check out our shop to find a gourd or bombilla you will like to drink this in.