After a lovely experience with Del Cebador Clasica, I had high hopes with this one.
Del Cebador Sabor Intenso (intense flavor) seemed unusual to me as their Clasica was already quite strong.
How strong can their Intense one be then, I thought.
And by intense, do they mean how bitter it is, how strong/present the flavor is…
Well, there’s only one way to find out…
Nose
After cracking open the bag, I’m already hit with a pungent smell. Something close to Paraguayan yerba, a sour smokiness appears right away. I also get this papery, cardboard-like smell, but I’m not sure if it’s because of the packaging. Another whiff, and a hint of woods and dried fruit can be detected.
Taste
When it comes to taste, Del Cebador Sabor Intenso was the complete opposite of what I was expecting. Because like I said, their Clasica was already strong in flavor so how much stronger can this one be? And turns out… not by much, actually.
On my first sip, this variety was giving off the same essence of their original yerba with prominent notes of earth and cedarwood. But with Sabor Intenso, the malty flavor takes a bit of a backseat in the beginning and is, instead, replaced with florals. Surprisingly though, the maltiness comes back into the picture showing off layers of caramel and milk chocolate. This decadent, rich flavor seems to run in the family. Mellowing out, subtle notes of cream, hazelnuts, and a vegetal green tea (a taste also found in Clasica) start to pop up here and there. Meanwhile, a strong earthiness makes up most of the flavor.
Overall, Sabor Intenso is nearly identical to their Clasica. Flavor profile is almost exactly the same except this one gives off a slightly more bitter/sharp taste. I wouldn’t necessarily classify this as being more intense.
I find Del Cebador Sabor Intenso to taste best in temps around 150ºF-160ºF (66ºC-70ºC). Going higher brings out more of its astringency and masks some of its subtler flavors. While going lower doesn’t bring forth its strength.
Finish
On the finish, Del Cebador Sabor Intenso leaves behind a nougaty taste with a brown sugar-like sweetness and hazelnut flavor from before. Along with this though is a moderate astringency that gives your mouth a constricting feeling. It’s not to the point it makes me want to reach for a glass of water to rinse my palate, but it’s there.
Body/Texture
Del Cebador Sabor Intenso is, as you guessed it, a full-bodied mate. No more or less compared to the original. The mouthfeel from the start is sandy and gritty as a lot of the finer, dusty particles can get through the bombilla. But as it corrects itself, the infusion becomes creamy, smooth, and heavy on the palate. Compared to the Clasica, astringency is a lot more present here. But strangely, I don’t experience it every time I drink it.
Cut
Del Cebador Sabor Intenso has a nearly identical cut to Del Cebador Clasica as they are both a P.U. 1 (padron Uruguayo) Uruguayan cut. From a glance, if you were to compare the two, you would not be able to tell any difference at all. But with a closer look, you can see that Sabor Intenso has a leafier cut. The leaves are more easy to spot as they’re slightly larger, although it’s still hiding underneath a bed of dust and powder.
In theory, this should make preparing it easier, but it’s so similar, that you can’t really tell a difference.
Cycle
Del Cebador Sabor Intenso has a long cycle. Like Clasica, this one just feels like it never runs out of flavor no matter how many times you refill it. At times, when I prepare it in the morning, I find myself not being able to finish it by the time I have to head out the door. Making one gourd of this is like drinking two mates a day. To avoid overdoing it or letting it go to waste, I would recommend using a smaller gourd for this yerba, or simply using less.
Effect
It’s easy to see a yerba with the words intense on it and mistake it for having an intense effect. But to me, this yerba falls in line with the rest of other Uruguayan brands. After all, it’s the flavor that’s intense, not the effect.
The effect can be felt gradually with a main feeling around my forehead and eyes. That typical floaty-head sensation is there but nothing out of the ordinary. I feel more focused and alert. Getting productive work done doesn’t feel as much of a struggle when I drink this. For me, this makes me more energetic physically, instead of something like kicking back and relaxing or reading a book.
Del Cebador Sabor Intenso Review
Del Cebador Sabor Intenso wasn’t what I was imagining, but nevertheless, is still a solid yerba coming from this company.
As a lover of Uruguayan yerba, you simply can’t go wrong with this one.
Sabor Intenso offers a slight extra kick in taste with a similar flavor profile to the original.
However, it’s very much possible you might find it to be more enjoyable.
If you’d like to find out, you can get a bag of it by clicking 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
P.S. If you enjoyed our review, you might want to check out our shop to find authentic handmade gourds and bombillas!