Contigo will be a yerba that I never forget.

But not precisely for a good reason..

Contigo, like Baldo, is another yerba coming out of the Canarias family. However, despite being related, Contigo is nothing like the rest of them.

Sure, you get the same inherent Uruguayan traits, but there’s one thing about this brand that might steer you away (or intrigue you to give it a shot).

Let’s learn more in today’s review…

Nose

To the nose, Contigo was nothing special. It had your basic yerba aroma of grass, woods, and a natural sweetness. It smells like most brands.

Taste

When I first tried Contigo, I must admit, it almost made me wince because of the bitterness (or flavor profile). This says a lot considering I’ve been drinking yerba mate for years. I haven’t been taken aback by a yerba’s taste for god knows how long. But this one did it.

Upon the first sip, Contigo boasts a strong, dank earthiness that has the power to grab your attention. This is mostly because it’s accompanied by that bitterness which has a strange mixture of notes reminiscent of cardboard paper and cement. Not the nicest combination but it dwindles down after three to four refills. From there, hints of dark chocolate can be detected as typical for a Uruguayan yerba. However, that wet cardboard taste always lingers in the background.

I found this mate to do best in temperatures of 150-160ºF. These lower temps bring down the bitterness a tad bit.

Finish

On the finish, Contigo leaves practically nothing behind. A slight bitterness and earthiness on the tongue but that disappears within seconds. The finish doesn’t change either in flavor nor strength throughout the entire mate.

Body/Texture

Contigo is a medium-to-full bodied mate. It starts off strong with a heavy cream-like texture, then simmers down just after 2 refills. A bit gritty/sandy to start, but smooths out into a rich infusion.

Cut

Contigo features a classic Uruguayan cut classified as P.U.1 – the most common type you’ll come across that consists of at least 90% leaves and at most 10% stems. Like the rest of its family, there is almost little to no distinction in appearance. Leaves are uniform in size and color with a nice olive green tone and yellow hue. Palos are noticeable with their striking white color in a background of dark greens, but are nowhere near in abundance. They’re finely pulverized just like the leaves and are a fraction of a millimeter thick. But when it comes to dust, we’re working with lots of it.

Clouds of powder plume into the air whenever I pour yerba into my gourd. Like any Uruguayan yerba, you’ll need a solid spoon bombilla to properly strain it. Otherwise, you’re bombilla will clog.

Cycle

Contigo has a long cycle. Like almost all Uruguayan brands, this one can easily last you up to a full liter. The strength of the flavor also holds up for a majority of the mate. Instead of taking a huge dip, it gradually mellows out until the last sip.

Effect

When it comes to effect, Contigo doesn’t surprise me. Everything you expect a yerba to make you feel, is exactly what Contigo gives.

A lovely growing focus can be felt around the eyes, enhancing your alertness and concentration. Effects can be felt almost immediately after the first sip but stay leveled. Not much to write home about here. The effects are like most brands and last about 2-3 hours before you realize it goes away. If you enjoy the effects of something like Canarias, Contigo will be another one to add to your collection.

Contigo Yerba Mate Review

Compared to the rest of the Canarias line, this is the one I enjoyed the least.

This doesn’t mean it tasted bad – I finished the entire kilo bag. But if you were to hand me Contigo compared to something like Rosamonte Especial, I would go with the latter every time. Or any Uruguayan brand I’ve tried already… Canarias, Sara, Baldo… would all come before this one.

Contigo is worth a try though.

I’ve seen others talk about how much they enjoyed it.

But personally, I would not be coming back to it.

The flavors are too minerally for me to love. And not to mention, that distinct bitterness I’ve never come across before. Maybe I’ll revisit Contigo again down the line and see if things change.

But for now, if you want to give this yerba a try, click one of the links below now:

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

P.S. If you enjoyed our review, check out our shop to treat yourself to a new mate gourd or bombilla!