If you’re reading this, you’re in search of the best yerba mate brands. And with four different types of yerba mate out there, and hundreds of different brands to try, you don’t know where to start.
But before we get into it, you need to know - "best" is extremely subjective.
What I like, you might not like. What I don’t like, you might love.
Which is why this post will list the 5 yerba mate brands I think everyone must try, as well as my personal 5 favorite yerbas.
Let’s start with number one…
Best Yerba Mate Brands That Everyone Must Try
These are yerbas that every beginner mate drinkers should buy to wet their beak. Every brand will taste different from the next, and even more so when it's from a different country. So this list includes one from each.
#1: Cruz De Malta (Best Yerba Mate For Beginners)
Cruz De Malta is one of the most well-known brands in the US.
With very little research about yerba mate, you’re bound to still hear about it.
And it’s no coincidence.
Cruz De Malta is your safe yerba mate brand. The crowd-pleaser. There’s no going wrong with it. And for years, I’ve said this, but I’ll say it again, Cruz is the best yerba mate for beginners.
Why?
Most people who take their first sip of mate complain about the bitter and harsh taste. But with its light, buttery, woody, and semi-sweet flavor, you get a warm, inviting welcome into the world of yerba mate, instead of one that’s off-putting and smacks you in the face.
Another problem beginners have is preparing the mate. But since Cruz De Malta is an Argentinian yerba containing broad leaves, large stems, and little to no dust, you shouldn’t have any issue making it. The particles are simply too big to pass through the bombilla.
#2: Canarias (Uruguay’s Most Popular Brand)
Canarias is a fan-favorite. Not just among Uruguayan’s, but nearly all mate drinkers.
But be warned…
This packs a much stronger punch than Argentine yerbas. It has an abundant amount of flavor with a rich body, which is why I don’t suggest starting with it. But some do find it better as it has a smoother taste. While others find it to be too much.
In my opinion, Canarias is stronger. And by stronger, the flavor is a lot more intense. However, it’s not necessarily more bitter. But it is something I enjoy a lot.
There are very few brands I can say that are up to par with this one because it contains a flavor profile you can’t find elsewhere. Ranging from a strong soil taste to hints of dark chocolate and nuts, Canarias is more for the intermediate to advanced drinker.
#3: CBSe (Flavored Yerba Mate)
CBSe is well known for their flavored yerbas.
Flavored yerba mate isn’t traditional. And usually most people would tell you to stay away from it because of that. But I think otherwise.
Flavored yerbas can taste great, but eventually, you grow out of it as your palate gets more accustomed to bitterness.
But for beginners, it can be a nice gateway into traditional yerba. I suggest starting with their honey one as honey pairs well with mate. But they have plenty of different flavors you could choose from.
Flavored yerba mate is definitely not something you’ll drink everyday. But when you’ve been drinking regular mate for a while, it’s one you can appreciate from time to time.
#4: La Rubia (For Brewing Cold As Terere)
La Rubia is a Paraguayan brand and I included it in this list because this will be your introduction to smokey yerbas. But it also has an earthy sweetness, slight bitterness, and unbelievable smoothness to it.
In Paraguay, their yerbas are meant to be brewed cold as terere. Although it can also be brewed hot, terere will open up another dimension of yerba mate. And this is one of my favorites for it.
Robust flavors, smooth and creamy, and long-lasting, there’s nothing bad I can say about La Rubia. However, it can be hard to find since it’s produced my a small operation.
#5: La Palma (A Twist On Chimarrão)
Everyone who is serious about diving into yerba mate has to try Brazilian chimarrão at least once.
Because not only does it taste great, but it’s also very different. It’s like comparing black tea to matcha. But in this case, aged yerba to fresh, non-aged yerba.
The only issue is that chimarrão is incredibly difficult to prepare, especially if you don’t have the right bombilla or a good-sized mate gourd. Both of which are necessary if you want to avoid it clogging and becoming impossible to drink.
Which is why, instead of your typical chimarrão brand, I recommend our own – La Palma.
La Palma is grown in Brazil and has a very similar flavor profile, except the cut of the yerba is like that of Uruguay’s, like Canarias, as previously mentioned. It’s finely cut and powdery, but nowhere near as powdery as your classic chimarrão. This makes for a yerba that is super green in color as it’s also not aged, but also with a rich, full-bodied flavor with notes of fresh cut grass, dark chocolate, nuts, and green tea.
So instead of possibly wasting your money on the more powdery stuff, get a taste of La Palma first, as it's easier to prepare. Then, if it’s up to your liking, get chimarrao.
My Personal Favorite Yerba Mate Brands
As mentioned, over the years, I got to try 100+ brands. And here are my personal top 5 brands at the time of writing this. (Last updated: 2020)
#1. La Hoja
La Hoja was a brand I reviewed back in April 2019 and I haven’t had it again since, but it has always stuck out to me the most.
It’s a traditional Argentinian brand but featured this unique flavor profile that tasted just like black tea mixed with milk and sugar. Of all the mates I’ve tried, La Hoja is the only one I’ve come across to ever produce this type of taste. And it’s amazingly delicious. Light, creamy, and sweet, it always reminded me of drinking boba or bubble tea, offering a nice change from the intense, harsh mates you typically come across.
La Hoja paves its own lane of flavor which is why it’s coming in as my number one spot.
Unfortunately, this brand can be hard to come by as it’s not as popular as others.
#2. Selecta
Selecta was another brand I reviewed a while back in February 2019. And I remember when I had a kilo of it, I didn’t drink anything else until I finished the entire bag. It tasted that good.
Selecta is a popular Paraguayan brand which to some beginners can be a bit too strong. But for the more experienced palate, it has this nice woodsy, toasty, dried-fruit taste that just blends perfectly together. Being a Paraguayan brand, it also surprisingly doesn’t taste very smokey. The texture is smooth and creamy instead of astringent.
Overall, Selecta is a brand I can easily drink every day for the rest of my life. It’s not complex by any means, but its taste and strength provide a punch of flavor that keeps you wanting more.
#3. Rosamonte Especial
Created by one of the most popular Argentinian brands, Rosamonte Especial is no stranger to the yerba mate community.
I’ve tried and reviewed Rosamonte Tradicional, Rosamonte Suave, and Rosamonte Despalada in the past, and Rosamonte Especial is easily their magnum opus. You can taste the 2-year aging of this yerba with its earthy, floral, sweet, and nutty flavor. Along with its exceptionally mild and palate-friendly strength. Rosamonte Especial is a mate that makes you pause to take a moment and bask in how wonderful it tastes.
The first time I tried this mate was back in March 2019. And the last time I revisited it was about one month ago. So I haven’t tasted Rosamonte Especial in 2 years. But when I had it again, all I could think to myself was how much I missed this brand. It just has one of the most satisfying flavor profiles ever. And the good news is unlike the other two just mentioned, this is a lot easier to find and get your hands on.
#4. Anna Park
For this fourth spot, I had a toss-up between two great organic, unsmoked brands – La Oberena and Anna Park. But I had to stick with Anna Park here.
Anna Park was one of the first mates I’ve ever had back in January 2017. I had it again in 2019 (again, another 2 years apart) and I can remember enjoying the heck out of it. So much so that I put off drinking the brand I was reviewing each day because I wanted to have Anna Park instead. This brand was also the first one to have my girlfriend tell me, Wow, I like this one!
Being organic and unsmoked, this mate is one of the smoothest and most natural-tasting with sweet notes of fresh grass, soil, woods, and nuts.
In the past, this brand was extremely hard to get your hands on because they only produce a limited amount each year. But today, it’s sold in more online shops though it can go out of stock fairly quickly.
#5. La Merced De Campo
La Merced De Campo is a brand that I can’t forget my reaction to. When I first reviewed it back in April 2019 (I’m noticing a lot of these brands I reviewed around the same time), all I can remember thinking is how perfect this mate tasted.
La Merced De Campo isn’t anything extraordinary, but it takes the classic taste of yerba mate and transforms it into this extremely delicious brew. All the familiar notes of earth, grass, and soil are combined with a woody and honey-like sweetness that works perfectly together. This isn’t a complex mate whatsoever. It has no flavor transitions, but it makes the absolute most of what it has. I consider this another mate that makes you sink back in your seat because of how good it tastes.
La Merced is an easy-to-find brand and is sold across many stores online. They also produce other variations like De Monte and Barbacua. However, as of right now, they’re only available in 500g bags. They don’t sell by the kilo.
Summary
If you’re looking for your first, second, third, or even tenth yerba mate brand, you can’t go wrong with the above.
Now again, this list isn’t definitive.
This isn’t the all-time best-of-the-best yerba mate brands in the entire world. Far from it. But it will set you in the right path to finding the right yerba mate brand for you.
You’ll have tried every type of yerba mate from each region – Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil.
All of which, have a different flavor and texture to offer. So after trying them, I hope you’ll know where to head towards next.
If you want to try some good yerba, shop our yerba mate collection.
