This is my first orange-flavored mate. And to say the least, I’m surprised by how good this tastes.

CBSe is somewhat the godfather of flavored/blended mates. They put out so many varieties it’s hard to even keep count.

I’ve had a couple of theirs in the past like CBSe Miel, Hierbas Serranas, and Energia Guarana, and I’ve enjoyed most of them (especially their guarana one). So going into this Naranja blend, I had some high expectations and lots of questions.

Is it going to taste artificial?

Is it a bitter or zesty orange flavor?

And is it going to be sickly sweet like their honey one?

Only one way to find out…

Nose

Opening the classic CBSe branded packaging, I was shocked. I couldn’t detect any scent or hint of orange whatsoever which caught me off guard. It’s not until you start brewing the mate that it starts to give off a nice orange aroma. This bag of yerba does have a bright, sweet, pastry and jam note though that’s found in most brands.

Taste

CBSe Naranja offers a refreshing break from the hot bitter mates that we’re used to. The main thing I was concerned about with this yerba is it being too sweet like their honey-flavored one. But, they crafted this one perfectly.

On each sip, I get a distinct taste of orange. But probably not in the way you’d expect. Drinking this mate is literally like drinking orange juice (when brewed hot) or taking a bite out of a ripe orange (when brewed cold). There’s nothing artificial about it. And the best part? It takes the spotlight without being overly sweet. It still has some classic notes of fresh grass and woods, but this time it acts as support – going mostly unnoticed as it blends right in with the orange. Overall, the flavor profile is super smooth and pleasant and with no flavor transitions.

I found this mate to taste best when brewed ice cold as terere. Brewing it hot on the lower end of about 140ºF (60ºC) can be tasty as well. But I can see it as offputting for some since it tastes like warm orange juice. I personally find it soothing.

Finish

On the finish, when brewed hot, you get a hint of orange zest with bitter orange peels that lingers on the back of your tongue. But when brewed cold, the finish has a crisp and refreshing citrus note that only lasts a few seconds.

Body/Texture

CBSe Naranja is a medium-bodied mate and I love it for that. It gave the mate exactly what it needed. With a below-average strength in flavor, this mate’s graininess on the first few refills adds a nice texture that makes it so not only are you tasting orange juice, but it feels like you’re drinking orange juice with pulp. However, if you’re brewing it hot, you’ll be met with some astringency that gives off a dry-mouth sensation. But no when brewed cold.

Cut

CBSe Naranja features a traditional Argentine cut, but with a noticeably higher dust content which is done on purpose. For mates that are meant to be drunk cold, there’s usually a lot more dust or finer particles to help it infuse quicker. So when you prepare this yerba, expect to get a heavy imprint of dust on your palm. As far as the rest, leaves are mostly a medium-sized cut while palos are abundant. Large, white stumpy stems fill up a good portion of the bag, attributing a soft flavor to the mate.

Any bombilla should be able to filter the yerba with no issues. But maintaining the mountain of mate can be tough with so many palos tipping it over.

Cycle

CBSe Naranja has a short-to-medium cycle. It can last a little more than half a liter before the flavor can’t hold up anymore. When brewed cold, it can last a little longer but it gets weak quickly. By the end, the supporting notes disappear and all you’re left with is a slight hint of orange.

Effect

CBSe Naranja isn’t big when it comes to effect. After all, it is a flavored yerba. And these tend to be weaker but it’s still got some juice in it.

Gourd after gourd, a slight increase in focus and concentration start setting in with an overall energy boost. Now, it won’t get you jumpy and going like a cup of coffee would, but it does get your mind and body ready for the day. Every time I’ve slept less than 8 hours, drinking this in the morning picks me right back up without being too stimulating. I’d say this mate is great for doing any physical activity as it doesn’t have a strong relaxing feeling.

CBSe Naranja is an all-day mate. Drinking this any time of the day shouldn’t cause problems with your sleep. But of course, your mileage may vary.

CBSe Naranja Yerba Mate Review

Orange is a common flavor yerba mate brands use and although this is my first one, I have a good feeling it’s one of the best.

Sweet, natural, and with just the right amount of orange, it’s delicious whether you drink it hot or cold.

It might even be better than adding a real orange slice to your mate. And that’s exactly what some people (including me) do. Whenever you want to add a kick of orange to your mate, try sprinkling a bit of CBSe Naranja into your gourd and mix it with another yerba.

I did this with some Rosamonte Especial I had leftover and it turned out great.

If you want to give this a try, get a bag now by visiting one of the links below:

Amazon (US | UK | CA | ES | DE | FR)
Click Here To Get A 1000g / 1kg Bag

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

Un-Mate (Europe – 10% OFF Order)
Click Here To Get A 250g, 500g, or 1000g Bag

P.S. If you enjoyed our review, you also might want to check out our store for extravagant mate gourds!